As some of you know I occasionally have the privilege of working on cash in the retail store. Being on cash allows a volunteer or staff to have many conversations with customers as they are paying, asking questions or just chatting. The one I really want to pass along was a first time customer. After learning it was their first time I asked them what they thought. Their answer was something I really want to pass along to you. They indicated how nice the store was, and how much merchandise there was, and how much they enjoyed getting to browse with so many things to look at in such a pleasant atmosphere. They then asked me how many staff it took to keep it like this – I passed along that it was really the 350+ volunteers that made it happen! The message they wanted me to pass along to the volunteers was simple and powerful. That message? “Thank you. Thank you to everyone who works to make the shop the way it is.” And that really says it all! From the customers, donors, staff and
people whose lives are changed – “Thank you!”
We hope that you’re able to join us for our annual volunteer appreciation event – this year its being held on Wed Oct. 29th (doors open 6pm!) at Steinmann Mennonite Church. There are sign up sheets in the kitchen I hope you’ve seen and used! If you haven’t signed up, please reach out to Emma and let her know that you’ll be with us. As always it’s a fun, joyous night as the staff celebrates each of you and the time and efforts you make.
I’m happy to let you know that Christmas will be coming out in the store on Oct. 20th. It seems like just a few weeks ago we were taking it down! It is an exciting time for us all!
As always we hope you know just how appreciated and valued you are. The efforts you make here have a direct impact on the lives of others!
Mark Patfield General Manager MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre
Safety Corner
It’s the time of year when the weather is cool and viruses spread. We’ve put together tips to help you stay safe and prevent getting sick.
Prevention
There are many variations of the viruses that cause the flu, and they also change over time. Viruses are spread through direct contact (within one to two metres, airborne transmission) or indirect contact (surfaces). How to help prevent getting and spreading the flu/cold
• Wash your hands often, using plenty of soap and warm water. Germs can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours.
• Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often throughout the day.
• Disinfect common surfaces in your home such as doorknobs and light switches. At work, disinfect items such as your keyboard and telephone.
• Cover your mouth when you cough, and sneeze
BIRTHDAYS October
Adrian G.
Tara C.
Jennifer D.
Georgina D.
Linda D.
Robin G.
Brenda W.
Murray S.
Anne W.
Gloria R.
Teresa B.
Jeff S.
Dorene R.
Howard A.
Sharon D.
Bonnie N.
Housewares - Support
Receiving
Retail Floor Support
Clothing - Support
Clothing - Sorting
Clothing - Cashier
Housewares - Support
Electrical - Testing
Cashier
Clothing - Cashier
Media - Clothing Pictures
Retail Floor Support
Clothing - Hanging
Clothing - Floor support
into a tissue or the inside of your sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs from entering your body.
• If you become sick, stay at home. This will prevent the spread of germs to other employees in your workplace as well as people you may come into contact with through your daily routine.
Pamela V.
Gerry R.
Scott L.
Mary Ellen F.
Anne L.
Kathy B.
Renae B.
Dee R.
Maureen E.
Donald E.
Joshua D.
Louise G.
Evelyn W.
Lorna R.
Karen F.
Clothing - Sorting
Jewelry
Electrical - Testing
Fabric
Receiving - Stuffies
Purses - Clothing
Jewelry - Footwear
Retail Floor Support
Cashier
Hardware - Electrical
Housewares - Receiving
Retail Floor Support
Retail Floor - Clothing
Linens - Footwear
Clothing - Pricing / Tagging
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!
Now Hiring
MCC Ontario is seeking a Thrift Growth & Performance Manager to lead strategic initiatives that drive growth, enhance shop performance, and support network-wide projects across all thrift locations. This role involves regular visits to MCC Ontario Thrift Shops and requires collaboration with General Managers and crossfunctional teams to implement innovative solutions. Hybrid and flexible work options are available, with a start date of November 24, 2025. If you know someone who would be a great fit for this role - or think you might be - please share or apply. bit.ly/Thrift-Growth-Performance-Manager
Volunteer Openings
• Retail Floor Support: Volunteers needed to assist with tidying up the store.
Thursday afternoon from 12pm to 3 pm
Friday afternoon from 1pm to 5 pm
Saturday morning from 9 am to 1pm
• Cashier: No experience needed
Saturday afternoon from 1 am 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
MCC Ontario Peace Conference
November 1, 2025 at Rockway Mennonite Collegiate in Kitchener
Join us on Saturday, November 1, for the MCC Peace Conference and explore the art of everyday peace. Attend in person in Kitchener, remotely from home, or at a watch party in St Catharines, Leamington, or Markham.
Active MCC volunteers receive 25% off with the code MCCVOLUNTEER25. Register by October 15 to secure your spot!
Learn more and register: mcc.org/events/peace-conference-0
Volunteer Appreciation Event
Dear Volunteers,
You’re invited to our Volunteer Appreciation Event—an evening of entertainment, finger food, fellowship, a special guest presentation, and a fashion show, all to celebrate you!
Wednesday, October 29
6:30–8:30 PM (doors open at 6:00)
Steinmann Mennonite Church, 1316 Snyder’s Road West
This event is for volunteers only. Please RSVP by October 20 on the sign-up sheet in the kitchen. We can’t wait to celebrate and thank you for all you do!
Learning, Listening, and Building Bridges: A Journey from Timmins
When Christopher Richardson—receiving team lead at MCC Thrift in St. Catharines—was invited to join a recent MCC Learning Tour to Timmins, he knew it would be meaningful. What he didn’t expect was how deeply it would reshape his understanding of Canada’s story, his own identity, and his role at MCC.
“Growing up, I thought I understood Canadian history,” Christopher reflects. “But so much was missing. I learned a lot over the past five years at MCC’s annual staff Truth and Reconciliation Day trainings, but on this tour, I really began to see through a new lens—an Indigenous lens.”
The journey north impressed him with the vastness of the land and the resilience of Indigenous communities. In Timmins, Christopher and the group, mostly other MCC staff, were led by MCC’s Indigenous Neighbours team through a jam-packed itinerary. They learned from partners like Mike Metatawabin, Deputy Grand Chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. They walked through the city with city councillor Kristin Murray, who shared how huge murals now tell stories once suppressed. The visit to Quilts for Survivors— where handmade quilts are offered as gifts of warmth and healing to residential school survivors—was compelling.
“The church did so much harm to Indigenous children through residential schools,” reflects Christopher. “[But] to have this Anglican church building now
repurposed to bring hope and comfort to those same people is amazing.”
“It was a heavy week,” Christopher admits. “But it was also hopeful. I saw bridges being built—between churches and Indigenous leaders, between communities, and in myself as I wrestled with what reconciliation means for me and my future children.”
Back at St. Catharines Thrift, Christopher is passionate about sharing what he learned, from dreaming about a mural by a local Indigenous artist to encouraging others to attend powwows and connect with Indigenous leaders in Niagara.
“I’m still working through what this means for me and my identity as a fifth-generation Canadian,” Christopher says. “But I am hopeful that I can do my part in making sure the next generation can view our identity and place in Canada through an Indigenous lens.”
Every day, hundreds of donations and purchases flow through MCC’s thrift shops. That work directly supports MCC’s programs and partners, including reconciliation and decolonizing initiatives like the ones Christopher saw in northern Ontario. Thank you for supporting this vital work!
