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
Well friends, by the time you’re reading this we should be deeply into fall. Christmas will have taken over the shop, and folks will be gearing up for the quickly approaching Christmas season! We as staff hope that you are getting to relax and spend time with friends and family!
This time of year is always one of the busiest in the calendar – both in terms of sales, donations and the amount of work that we all do. I want to encourage each of you as your serve in your individual ways, reminding you that everything we do in the shop ends up directly making an impact in someone’s life. You are giving a real gift each time you are here, and it is deeply appreciated
Most of you, I’m sure, have heard the news by now that Emma will be leaving the shop. Her last
• 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
scheduled day with us will be Nov. 28th. Emma has been in the shop for 13 years, starting as the business manager, morphing into the volunteer coordinator/ production role that she currently holds. Emma has been a constant in the shop, bringing her humor, smile, patience and friendliness each and every day. She has been highly successful in all her roles and she will be deeply missed by all the staff and volunteers. We wish nothing but the best for Emma going forward!
Mark Patfield
General Manager
MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre
Safety Corner
Safety
Tips: Snow Shovelling
• Consider hiring a student or using a volunteer service if you are a senior
• Shovel at least 1–2 hours after eating, and avoid caffeine and nicotine
• Warm up first (walk or march in place for several minutes before beginning)
• Start slow and continue at a slow pace
(Suggestion: shovel for 5–7 minutes and rest 2–3 minutes)
• Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration
• Shovel early and often
• New snow is lighter than heavily packed/partially melted snow
• Take frequent breaks
Clothing
• Wear multiple layers and cover as much skin as possible
• Wear a hat and scarf (make sure neither block your vision)
Note from Emma
Dear MCC volunteers and staff,
As I come to the end of my time with MCC, my heart is filled with gratitude for the people and the experiences that have deeply shaped my life over the past thirteen years. When I first arrived in Canada, far from my family and still learning English, I found in each of you a home — a community that welcomed me with open arms. You celebrated my milestones, supported me through challenges, and were there during some of the most meaningful moments of my life — from my pregnancies to watching my children grow. You have truly been my family.
• Wear mittens (tend to be warmer than gloves)
• Wear boots with non-skid/no-slip rubber soles Technique
• Push the snow rather than lifting
• Protect your back by lifting properly and safely: Stand with feet at hip width for balance
• Hold the shovel close to your body
• Space hands apart to increase leverage
• Bend from your knees, not your back
• Tighten your stomach muscles while lifting
• Avoid twisting while lifting
• Walk to dump snow rather than throwing it
• When snow is deep, shovel small amounts (1–2 inches at a time) at a time
• If the ground is icy or slippery, spread salt, sand or cat litter to create better foot traction
(Source: toronto.ca)
As I move into a new chapter, I deeply believe that God can use even difficult times to accomplish His purpose. Through every circumstance, He has shown Himself faithful, present, and real. I am profoundly thankful for all that I have learned, for the friendships I have built, and for the privilege of serving alongside such wonderful and compassionate people. You have all been a blessing to me, and I hope our paths continue to cross in the future.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.”
– Psalm 107:1
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!
Around the Shop
Emma’s got a talent for capturing our amazing volunteers in action! From sorting to organizing and everything in between, every moment tells a story. Thank you to our volunteers for bringing energy and heart to the shop! Welcome!
We welcome our new volunteers who started with us recently!
Curran Foster
Stan Krizmanich
Connie Finn Receiving Metal Recycling Books
Volunteer Openings
• Retail Floor Support: Volunteers needed to assist with tidying up the store.
Thursday afternoon from 12 pm to 3 pm
Friday afternoon from 1pm to 5 pm
Saturday morning from 9 am to 1 pm
• Cashier: No experience needed
Saturday afternoon from 1 pm to 5 pm
• Clothing Sorters: Do you enjoy fashion? Have an eye for labels and trends? We are looking for volunteers to do clothing sorting
Monday afternoon from 1pm to 4 pm
Tuesday morning from 9 am to 12 pm or Tuesday Afternoon from 1pm to 4 pm and
Friday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm and afternoons 1 pm to 4 pm.
• Receivers: Greet our valued donors at the back door to accept goods. Good customer service required. Shifts available:
Wednesday afternoon 1 pm to 5 pm,
Thursday afternoon 1 pm to 5 pm
Friday and Saturday morning from 9 am to 1 pm and afternoon 1 pm to 5 pm
November
TJ
BIRTHDAYS
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.
