Keeping our valued volunteers informed
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Christmas Message to Our Incredible Volunteers
Dear Friends,
As we enter this season of peace and gratitude, we want to take a moment to thank you. The way you show up, with kindness, commitment, and a deep sense of care, makes such a difference in our shops and far beyond them. Every hour you’ve offered, every welcome you’ve extended, every connection you’ve built has helped MCC live out its mission in real and meaningful ways.
Because of you, families find stability, communities grow stronger, and hope takes root in places we may never see ourselves. Your generosity echoes far beyond the day-to-day, and we don’t take it for granted.
GM’s Corner
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
Psalm 133:1
What a joy the Christmas season brings! As I walk around the shop and behold all the beautiful things you have processed and priced, I’m amazed at how much we have accomplished together this past year. We’ve been through a renovation together. We’ve been through the hard time of putting a shop back together and figuring out where everything should go – together. We’ve been there for each other when those of us have gotten sick or gone through surgery
New Volunteers
From all of us at MCC Ontario Thrift, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a season filled with peace, joy, and quiet moments of gratitude. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We truly couldn’t do this work without you.
Warmly, Lynda Lynch
Thrift Director
Caitlin Sousa
Thrift Operations & Training Manager
Heather Krotz
Thrift Project Lead (MCC Picks Up)
and recovery- together. We’ve mourned together. We’ve celebrated the highest Open House revenue on record – together.
Life doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I’m so grateful for all of you; it’s truly been my privilege to work alongside all of you over the past two years. May God continually fill your hearts with love, joy, health and happiness this Christmas!
PennyHanslien
General Manager
MCC Thrift on Mill
Join me in welcoming LouAnne, Margaret, and Maria, to the Thrift on Mill Volunteer Team! Please give them a warm welcome and invite them to your snack crew!
VEM Inspiration
These past weeks have been a blast!
We enjoyed the November Christmas Open House, which brought cheer, stamina, and revenue for our work of relief, development, and peace. We also thanked our pastors during Pastor Appreciation Month.
It’s the last month of the year—wow! It has been a pleasure to work alongside you these past eight months. As we close the year with the Christmas season, let’s continue to look toward our Saviour and open our hearts to share more love. Every day is an opportunity to bless others!
With the Christmas season upon us, let’s try to make others feel special and loved. We never know what others are going through. The season can be hard for some of our neighbours, so let’s intentionally send grace, light, and peace to those around us.
Thank you, volunteers, for showing up in rain or shine and throughout the seasons! We appreciate your diligence, care, and energy.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” — John 1:5
Thank you for serving with us at Thrift on Mill! Your volunteer service helps MCC Clean Water Programs:
• 46,247 people receive access to clean water sources.
• 40,092 people receive water, sanitation, and hygiene training.
• 6, 985 people have access to new/improved latrines and sanitation facilities
• 76% of Nepal program participants have safe water in their homes!
Thank YOU so very much for supporting MCC’s work with your volunteer service. We treasure it and look forward to helping more people with your support!
With gratitude,
LiTunjia Olubusi
Volunteer Engagement Manager MCC Thrift on Mill
Open Volunteer Positions
Do you or someone you know have a heart for service and 2+ hours to spare?
We’re expanding our volunteer team! Email litunjiaolubusi@mcco.ca or call LiTunjia Olubusi 519-326-3665 extension 312.
• Change Room Attendant - Keep things moving with tidy rooms, friendly smiles, and fashion advice on the fly!
• Sales Floor Helper – Love people and bargains? Help customers find hidden treasures!
• Donation Sorter – Be the first to discover donated gems behind the scenes!
• Cashier – Ring up sales with joy and send shoppers off with a smile!
• Display Stylist/ Retail Floor Decorator – Turn second-hand goods into eye-catching displays!
• All-Around Helper – Jump in where needed and keep the shop running smoothly!
VEM Recipe
One of the most enjoyable things about fall is soup and stew season. The cold weather brings long periods inside and this aromatic soup will keep the cool temperatures at bay!
Volunteer Potluck
We are thrilled to celebrate Christmas with our Thrift on Mill Volunteers!
All-Day Potluck in the Breakroom
Dates: Friday, December 12 & Monday, December 22
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: Breakroom
Join us for a low-key, come-and-go potluck. Bring a savoury dish and a smile—we will take care of dessert! Let us make December a month of sharing joy! Thank you for all you do!
Suggestion Box
Do you have a concern and want to remain anonymous? Use the suggestion box to tell Thrift on Mill your concerns. If you would prefer to talk on the phone or contact me directly, you can reach me at 519-326-3665 extension 312 or litunjiaolubusi@mcco.ca.
December Highlights
We could all use a little motivation, right? Below are a few folks and facts to help us realize what’s possible during December’s holiday season.
12/3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities: Disability doesn’t mean unable!
Nick Vujicic is an Australian-born motivational speaker and author who was born without arms and legs due to tetra-amelia syndrome. He founded Life Without Limbs and Attitude is Altitude, inspiring millions worldwide with his message of faith, hope, and resilience.
12/10 Human Rights Day: Faith has action!
Amanda Berry Smith (1837–1915) was a formerly enslaved woman who became a renowned evangelist and missionary, traveling across the United States, Europe, and Africa to share her Christian faith. She also founded an orphanage for African American children, making her ministry about advocacy for education and social uplift.
12/24 Christmas Eve: We marvel at God’s handiwork!
On December 24, 1968, the Apollo 8 astronauts—Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders—broadcast a reading of Genesis from lunar orbit, sharing a message of hope and faith with millions on Earth. Their bold act of worship during a historic space mission remains one of the most memorable Christmas Eve moments in modern history!
12/25 Christmas Day: Celebrate Jesus!
In 1871, James Montgomery’s Christmas carol, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” is first used in a public service, despite having been written in 1816. It is sung at the English Moravian center in Fulneck, Yorkshire, England” (Christian History Institute, 2025, p.1).
12/26 Boxing Day: Remember the Less-Fortunate!
Boxing Day dates to the Middle Ages, when churches placed alms boxes during Advent to collect donations for the poor. These boxes were opened on December 26—St. Stephen’s Day, honoring the first Christian martyr known for acts of charity.
12/31 New Year’s Day: New Beginnings Await
Every culture celebrates the New Year differently, but a few things are common: hope, joy, and excitement. We hope for new inspiration and events to occur, we joy over the unknown and happy surprises, and we are excited commence a new chapter, What are your New Year’s Plans?
New Volunteer Position Titles
Clearer titles, same great teamwork!
We’re updating volunteer position titles across all six MCC Thrift shops to bring clarity and consistency. Your position will not change and remains essential! Your team lead stays the same Shop workflow is not changing Updated titles will appear in VicTouch by mid-December, and FAQs will be posted on your shop bulletin board. If you have any questions, please speak with your Volunteer Engagement Manager.
Volunteer Survey Now Open
Your voice matters—help shape the MCC Ontario volunteer experience! We value your feedback and want to hear from you! The annual volunteer survey is now open, and your input helps us improve your experience and strengthen our programs.
Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing the survey with the link below: www.surveymonkey.com/r/MCCOVolunteerSurvey2025
Thank you for your time and for the incredible impact you make towards relief, development, and peace through volunteering with MCC Ontario!
BIRTHDAYS December
Liz
Peter Andrew Tyler Vriesacker
Around the Shop
Barb
Cheryl Willms
Louise Wiens
Aganetha (Neta) Neudorf
Lourdes Ramirez
Cheryl Bobro
Psst…Did you forget something?
Don’t dash off like Usain Bolt, please make sure you grab your belongings! If you leave something behind, give us a call ASAP—otherwise, your favourite scarf might end up as a “hot new item” on the sales floor. And about your locker keys… please leave them behind! They’re not special keys, but they do help keep everyone’s treasures safe. Sharing is caring—especially when it comes to locks and keys.
Health Advisory
If you’re feeling under the weather with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, or stomach issues, please stay home until you’re symptom-free and improving for at least 24 hours (48 hours for stomach bugs). If you volunteered within 24 hours of getting sick, let Penny or Kyle know so we can keep everyone healthy. Remember to wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and feel free to grab a mask at sign-in. Let’s share holiday cheer, not germs.
Be an Active Bystander
Join our Training Active Bystanders (TAB) workshop and learn practical ways to respond to harmful or isolating behaviour in everyday life.
Date: January 19, 2026 | Time: 1:30–4:00 PM ET | Online - Zoom
MCC Ontario does not expect volunteers to enter unsafe situations— TAB is about building confidence for everyday scenarios. Register here: bit.ly/TABJan2026
Give Gifts of Comfort and Joy Chris as Giving Guide
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: MCC’s annual Christmas giving guide is back! Every year, MCC publishes its Christmas guide as a way for you to give gifts with impact worldwide. In addition to a nice sweater or new toy for your loved one, add the gift of education for a girl in Ethiopia, or a duck for a family in Bangladesh.
Here are some unique gifts to add to your Christmas list:
Clean water at school
Share a gift of clean water!
This handwashing station at a primary school in Ethiopia helps Selam Bulo, a third-grade student, and her peers in Batu, Ethiopia stay clean, healthy and fully immersed in their studies. $25
Room at the inn
$75
For people on the move, an open door, a warm bed and a listening ear offer great comfort and hope. This gift helps people like pastors Victor Lampón Leon and Rocio Valencia Islas in Mexico have the supplies they need, including mattresses, pads and sheets so that they can extend hospitality to those moving through their communities.
Sewing machine
$150
Go the extra yard with a gift tailor-made for those who love to sew. With a machine of hers own, Mariyum Khatun of Bangladesh can start a new business to support her family.
This Christmas, by helping our global neighbours build skills, grow food or meet basic needs, your generosity brings cause for celebration long after your tree comes down and the lights are put away.
Find the 2025 Christmas catalogues at receiving, cash and volunteer lunch rooms. You can also distribute these to your churches – we have 25,000 copies to give out! Talk to your Volunteer Engagement Manager if you need copies.
You can also shop online by going to mcc.org/Christmas and sending an e-card after making your donation. Or call 888-622-6337 toll-free to talk to an MCC representative. You can select your gifts and request e-cards or paper-cards that you can send to your loved ones.
