A Season for Giving and Gratitude
Dear MCC Thrift Volunteer,
The 2025 Christmas Giving Guide is here—and it’s full of joy, hope, and meaningful ways to make a difference!
As someone who generously gives your time at MCC Thrift, you already know the power of community and compassion. This Christmas, we invite you to take that spirit even further by exploring MCC’s Giving Guide and sharing it with your loved ones.
Whether it’s a fruit tree for $20 to help a farmer earn income, a beekeeping kit for $43 to support thriving ecosystems, or a sewing machine for $150 to empower someone’s livelihood—each gift is a chance to bring comfort and joy to families around the world. You can:
• Give a gift in honour of someone special and send a personalized e-card.
• Print a card at home or request one to be mailed to you.
GM’s Corner
United in Purpose for Relief Development and Peace
Welcome to November! When the temperature drops and there’s frost on the ground, inspiring thoughts abound! Outdoor adventures like skating or hiking, with hot chocolate as the reward afterwards. Mmmm!
Remembrance Day: The annual Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Leamington Cenotaph
• Share the guide with friends, family, and customers at your thrift shop.
Even though the printed guide may be delayed due to the Canada Post strike, you can browse and shop online anytime (mcc.org/christmas). You can also pick up a copy of the guide at your Thrift shop.
We hope you will choose a gift that celebrates your values and spreads hope.
Thank you for contributing to MCC’s mission. Your passion and compassion help make this season brighter for everyone.
With gratitude and joy,
Kim Lester Associate Executive Director
on Saturday, November 11. A parade will start at the corner of Fox Street and Mill Street West at 10:30 AM and end at the Cenotaph, where the ceremony will begin.
We have so much to be thankful for...
It is amazing how far we have come...all the way from the Etcetera shop to now. Looking back gives us perspective of how far we’ve come but also gives us hope as we look to the future.
In November, we remember the sacrifice of so many soldiers and the price they paid for freedom. My Grandfather Gillard was in Princess Patricia’s light infantry unit and worked as a medic on those fields in Europe during World War II.
PennyHanslien
General Manager MCC Thrift on Mill
Volunteer Engagement Manager Inspiration
Hello Everyone,
Are we enjoying the last quarter of the year? It’s been an exciting and rewarding time of service at MCC Thrift on Mill. Last month we had lots of celebrations and an in-service from UMEI! We made memories and created new connections with our partners in faith and service. Thank you volunteers for joining us in celebrating one another and creating a good rapport with the Leamington community. With our service we help:
• 299, 458 people receive emergency food assistance.
• 11, 805 people receive financial/rental assistance.
• 202 homes repaired or constructed
• 46, 300 people given temporary shelter
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!
LiTunjia Olubusi
Volunteer Engagement Manager MCC Thrift on Mill
Open Volunteer Positions
Do you have a heart for service and 2+ hours to spare? Volunteer with us! 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!
Suggestion Box
Do you have a concern and want to remain anonymous? Use the suggestion box to tell MCC Thrift on Mill your concerns. If you would prefer to talk on the phone or contact me directly, you can reach me at 519-3263665 extension 312 or litunjiaolubusi@mcco.ca.
Annual Volunteer Survey Coming Soon!
We value your feedback! Keep an eye on your inbox for our annual volunteer survey, arriving in late November or early December. Your insights help us improve and celebrate the amazing work you do—thank you for being part of our community!
New Volunteers
Join me in welcoming Brandon, Cathy, and Nassar to the Thrift on Mill Volunteer Team! Please give them a warm welcome and invite them to your snack crew!
Volunteer Engagement Manager 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 MCC Thrift on Mill volunteers this month!
All-Day Potluck in the Breakroom
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Time: 9am-4pm
Location: Breakroom
Join us for a low-key, come-and-go potluck. Bring a savory dish and a smile—we will take care of dessert!
Let us make November a month of relationship building. Thank you for all you do!
Remember to Check in with Yourself =)
Please, take a moment during break times to refresh. You can find the basics and anything else you need waiting for you under the sink!
BIRTHDAYS
Aggie, Agatha, Lourdes, Ursulina
UMEI Boys
Jen and Ken at the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
UMEI Girls
ToM Staff at TR Day
Al Lehn giving us a blessing
Maria, Jathniel, and Janet celebrate 100 hours
Rosemary and Maggie
Jen’s Grandfather
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.
