Strathroy-Caradoc is a municipality located 40KM west of London. It was created through the merger of the former township of Caradoc and the town of Strathroy in 2001. Strathroy-Caradoc is a primarily rural municipality. Industries include turkey and chicken hatching and processing, corn, tobacco, automotive, and pharmaceutical. Rural communities have traditionally created initiatives that support their community. The establishment of the SSVP Economy Shop is an extension of that spirit.

All Saints Catholic Church established a SSVP conference in 1967. In 1971, five Vincentians lead by Hugh Thompson recognized an opportunity for the Society to extend their outreach in the community and initiated the establishment of the SSVP Economy Shop, opening in 1972. At this time, the conference was deactivated as a ‘traditional conference' and the Economy Shop became the ‘face' of the SSVP in Strathroy. They leased a property that previously was a lumber yard. Over the years, the property experienced five expansions, inclusive of a new warehouse built in 2000.

The store name "Economy Shop" was created to reflect the vision of the board members, that being the store had the interest of the community in mind. That community based vision continues to be the cornerstone of the store today and it also is a major reason for the success of the store. One of the visions of the store was to create employment opportunities in the community. The store employs 13 paid staff (full and part-time). The store is open Monday thru Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

Numerous community based initiatives exist, inclusive of: Client Help - Persons in need of food, clothing or household items are supported thru a cooperative relationship between the Economy Shop, the Salvation Army and many other community agencies. The food bank is operated by the Salvation Army. All Saints Church conducts food drives, providing food to the Salvation Army. The church will also provide a ‘food card' from the local grocery store to purchase perishable food items. The Economy shop provides clothing, furniture and household items. What makes this relationship unique is client referrals come from several sources within the community. The Economy Shop partners with several community agencies for the purpose of providing necessities of household items and clothing to individuals who have nothing. The Social Justice group from All Saints will provide a voucher for victims of sudden and disastrous events. Several community agencies are authorized to initiate a voucher redeemable at the Economy Shop. These agencies are at the forefront of serving individuals who are in need of help in the Strathroy-Caradoc community. These agencies include:

• The Women's Rural Resource Center
• Public Health Nurse - helping new mothers through a program called Smartstart
• Leads Employment Agency - helping people re-enter the work force, referring clients to the Economy Shop to obtain clothing to assist in job searches (e.g. steel toe boots)
• Ontario Works
• Middlesex County Living
• Social Justice Committee of All Saints Parish
• Search Community Mental Health Service - case workers and clients make a social outing to visit the Economy Shop
• Kiikeewanniikan Southwest Regional Healing Lodge/Shelter

15-20 families are supported through these agencies monthly. The Economy Shop also donates $300 monthly to the Salvation Army food bank.

Community cooperation also extends beyond partnering with these excellent agencies. The Economy Shop also supports:

Scouts Canada - all donations with metal material content that cannot be sold at the store are given to the Scouts for them to recycle the metal
Community Players - is a local theatre group that will use clothing/props furnished by the store
Fashion Show - with sponsorship from Marylyn Buttery, a local resident, a fashion show featuring clothing supplied from the store, using volunteers as models is a fund raiser event that helps create awareness in the community. All ticket sale proceeds are shared between the SSVP and the Women's Rural Resource Centre
Saint Vincent de Paul Summer Camp - 22 children are sponsored to attend the SSVP summer camp

The latest initiative to provide support within the community was the creation of a new program called Leo's Linens. This program provides diapers for infants and adults. A $2,500 initial supply of diapers was funded by the Ontario Regional SSVP Council under their Systematic Change Initiative for distribution thru the Economy Shop. Additionally, solicitation for unused infant diapers is made to families with infants who have out grown their size or unused diapers from adults who have deceased. This service is provided two Tuesdays per month. On the first day of operation, four infants and two adults benefited from this program. To date 12 clients have received support. They are eligible to return bi monthly. A full box of diapers is provided (infant up to 150 diapers, adult 24 in a box). As the distribution of diapers may be deemed very personal, especially for adults, the name Leo's Linen was created. The name Leo was in recognition of a long term volunteer and Board member since 1973, Leo Verberne.

I have often commented that SSVP Stores are the "Face of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul" in many communities. The founding members of the Society in Strathroy embraced the mission and values of the Society ‘to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy' by the creation of the Economy Shop to serve their community. They also recognized that by partnering with other support groups in the community, that collectively, their outreach efforts are most effective.