The Beyond the Blue Box thrift store in Cobourg is one step closer to returning, nearly two years after a fire destroyed its Covert Street location in September 2023.
Beyond the Blue Box in Cobourg provides supportive employment opportunities for individuals living with developmental disabilities, helping them build skills and independence in a welcoming environment. The non-profit also serves as a community hub for recycling and reusing gently used household items, promoting sustainability through its thrift store and donation programs.
Plans are now underway to rebuild on the same site, but first, a retaining wall must be constructed along Midtown Creek.
Beyond the Blue Box’s Kendra Simmons says everything is starting to come together.
The wall is required by the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority, and delays in securing permits were a big part of what pushed back the timeline for the project.
Simmons tells us what they’ve been up to since losing the store.
The new store will be fully accessible and larger than the original, giving more room for donations, programs, and community services. The non-profit is preparing to launch a fundraising campaign to help raise nearly $1 million to complete the project.
Beyond the Blue Box has long served as a community hub – offering affordable resale items, volunteer opportunities, and sustainability programming. The fire left a major gap in local services, but supporters see the rebuild as a chance to come back stronger.
Organizers say the community will play a key role in the next steps.
Construction of the retaining wall is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks, with further updates on the campaign and rebuild timeline to follow.
Simmons reminds those looking to help that your donations of clothing, sports equipment, dishes, lighting fixtures and lamps, books, hardware, small working appliances, electronics (No TV’s, computers, printers, scanners or monitors (unless they are flat-panel or modern Laptops), CDs, DVDs, LPs and craft items are what help keep the store running, so keep those donations coming!
For more on Beyond the Blue Box or to support the project, visit their website or follow along on social media and be sure to check out this video to learn more about why your support is so important.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
Artists rendition of the new Beyond the Blue Box
