After moving to Ottawa from Montreal last year, Teresa McCrory sought a meaningful way to connect with her new community. She found it by transforming her longtime passion for thrifting into a charitable force, launching a solo fundraising initiative that directly supports women's education through scholarships and bursaries.
From Thrifting Hobby to Charitable Enterprise
McCrory, who joined the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Nepean, decided to channel her eye for second-hand treasures toward a cause she believes in deeply. Dubbing herself "The Trusty Thrifter," she began listing her curated thrift finds and personal items on Facebook Marketplace about a month ago, with every single dollar of the proceeds being donated to the CFUW Nepean Scholarship Trust.
"I thought it was an excellent initiative that I wanted to support," McCrory explained. "I found that I was accumulating a whole bunch of stuff, so I thought, I can sell it on Marketplace and donate to the scholarship trust." Her efforts have already generated approximately $1,250 for the trust.
Funding the Future for Women and Indigenous Students
The CFUW Scholarship Trust, registered as a charity with Revenue Canada since 1996, is managed by a five-member board. For the 2024–2025 academic year, the trust increased its three scholarships and bursaries from $1,000 to $1,500 each, disbursing a total of $9,000 to Algonquin College.
Kathy Greiner, chair of the scholarship trust, noted the trust has recently expanded its awards to include support for women in science and technology and an award for an Indigenous student pursuing higher education. This focus addresses a critical gap: Statistics Canada data shows women comprise less than 40% of STEM students and under 30% of professionals in STEM jobs.
Building Community Through Shared Purpose
CFUW Nepean is a non-profit organization led by women, with most of its just over 50 members being retired professionals dedicated to promoting women's education. "It's a women's group that exists to support other women," McCrory said of the organization she now actively supports.
The group has historically raised funds through used book sales, raffles, and member-written plays performed at retirement homes. McCrory's "Trusty Thrifter" initiative adds a modern, entrepreneurial twist to these fundraising efforts, proving that personal passion can be powerfully leveraged for community good. For a newcomer to Ottawa, it has provided the perfect blend of purpose, passion, and connection.
