If you’ve been in the shop lately, you’ve probably seen Brian in action… steady, thoughtful, and deeply committed to MCC’s mission. And if you haven’t been in for a bit or missed the email update, here’s the scoop: Brian is now the General Manager of MCC Care & Share!
Brian’s leadership is all about collaboration, care, and community impact which are the kind of values that
Every day I spend among all of you here at MCC Care & Share reminds me that people need more than activity to thrive. We need family, friendship, love, compassion, grace, mercy, fun and laughter and we need each of them daily. At an even deeper level, we need roots, stability, and purpose. That truth is personal to me, because of where I come from.
In the 1950s, the Newfoundland government launched its resettlement program. Families were moved from small coastal outports into larger communities in the name of progress. But the cost was high: homes abandoned, communities dismantled, and deep roots torn up. A song from that time expressed the pain:
“You can’t take someone from a life that they know, tear up their roots, and expect them to grow.”
That first line speaks of grounding. Just like a tree can’t flourish if it’s constantly uprooted, people can’t grow when they have no steady soil. I’ve seen the same in workplaces—when change is constant, direction seems absent or continually shifting, people are asked to move but given no time or space to take root.
The way the song continues is even more poignant: “For if they’re unwillingly forced to decide, they’ll move without leaving and never arrive.”
make thrift such a meaningful part of MCC’s work. He’s excited to keep building strong relationships with volunteers and to lead the shop with purpose and heart and we’re excited to have him leading thrift in Stouffville.
MCC Ontario Thrift Director
This second line reminds us that without stability, people lose their bearings. They may keep moving, but without clear boundaries and direction, they may “move without leaving and never arrive.” Real growth needs stability—not stagnation. A steady foundation of shared values, clear expectations, and purposeful direction that give people the confidence to take root and move forward.
That’s why we must tend to the flame, not worship the ashes. We honor the past without being trapped by it, carrying forward what matters most while letting go of what no longer serves.
At MCC Care & Share, that’s what we seek to embody together. To not just move, but to truly arrive. To carry our roots forward in service. To Be the Care and Live the Share.
Brian Ingram Acting General Manager MCC Care & Share
New volunteers added to our family so far this month! Let’s welcome:
Diane B: Softlines
Natasha O: Hardlines
Jan L: Cashier
Alvin Z: Receiving
Dilana T: Receiving
Luca M: Receiving
Mary S: Retail
Earlier this year, MCC and MCC Care & Share began what we hope will be a continued partnership with local charity, 360°Kids. Based in York Region, 360°Kids is dedicated to supporting at-risk and homeless youth aged 12 to 25. For over 30 years, they’ve been a lifeline for young people facing housing instability, poverty, and other challenges. They offer a wide range of programs built around four core pillars: Housing, Employment, Education and Well-being.
As part of their employment preparedness program, we welcomed two staff, Emily and Nikki, who worked with us for 7 weeks. The 360°Kids team selected our store as their employer of the month for our support & guidance given to them during their time here. Emily & Nikki were an amazing addition during their short time with us. Dedicated, hard-working and a delight to work with. They are truly missed, and we are thrilled to be honored in this way and to know that Care and Share has made a positive impact for them.
We are thrilled to announce that MCC Care & Share has been awarded a Community Impact Award by the town of Stouffville in the category of Environmental Sustainability!
This incredible achievement reflects the unwavering dedication of our staff, the tireless efforts of our volunteers, the support of our customers, and the generosity of our donors. Together, we continue to make meaningful change—reducing waste, reusing and giving items a second life, and building a greener future for everyone.
This award is not just a recognition of our environmental efforts—it’s a celebration of what purpose and passion can accomplish. We are abundantly blessed by our amazing team and thank each and every one for being part of this journey.
How do you fix a broken pumpkin? With a pumpkin patch!
We appreciate YOU!!!
Thank you for being the Care and the Share here at Care and Share! We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all of our incredible volunteers (aka, YOU!) who give their time, energy, and heart to support our mission. Your dedication makes a lasting impact in our community, and we are so fortunate to have you on our team. We had an AMAZING time celebrating YOU, at our Volunteer Appreciation BBQ!!! An evening filled with good food, laughter, photos, connection, and well-deserved recognition. It was a small token of thanks for the BIG difference you make every day! Take a look at some of our favorite moments from the event below, we hope the smiles in these photos reflect just how much you mean to us!
For all the photobooth fun photos, scan this QR code! To do that, open the camera on your phone, point it at the QR code, then tap on the link that pops up!)
Thank you for all that you do, we truly couldn’t do it without you!
Love,
Your Care and Share Staff Team
In August I was fortunate to be asked to go on a learning tour of the Indigenous Neighbours Program in Timmins, Ontario. I spent a week learning all about what MCCO is doing so far north! It was an amazing and busy time! I hope in the next few weeks to put together a little presentation for volunteers so they can learn more about what I learned. But below are just of few of the highlights:
• I learned how important mining is to the area and how indigenous people are affected by the mining industry.
• I saw how MCCO is helping reconnect people with the land to help with food security by providing young people with hunting and fishing kits.
• I experienced how the Niska Artisans program supports indigenous artisans in Northern Ontario sell their work fairly, learn how to improve their craft and help networking. I even beaded my own keychain! www.niskaartisans.ca
I went up north hoping to experience the north, learn more about our indigenous neighbours and I hoped to eat some moose stew! The guest speakers’ stories opened my eyes to how the residential schools affected families but also how they are overcoming obstacles, improving their own lives and those around them.
One more thing that I learned was that MCCO is very involved in networking and helping different groups/ partners connect to the right resources. Yes, I also got to enjoy moose stew, all the food was fantastic! If you get a chance to go on an MCC learning tour, go!
- Sean
Free concert?? C&S has their very own Eric Clapton on their hands! Thank you Doug for blessing our ears with your musical abilities
We love birthdays!!! Happy birthday Yi Ping and Herb!!! Thank you Denise for the very tasty carrot cake!
Run, run, as fast as you can! You cant catch me, I’m the Michelin Man!
Notebooks and pencils are treasures for families who struggle to access or afford school supplies. MCC school kits are often requested after disasters as they help bring a sense of normalcy to children whose families have been forced to flee their homes. Thank you to a couple of very generous customers who donated 80 kits to us for MCC!
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
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 Niagara, 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
Shelley L
Sonali J
Elliot H
Ryan H
Denise F
Georgia M
Mary S
Ethan C
Oct. 2
Oct. 2
Oct. 4
Oct. 7
Oct. 12
Oct. 17
Oct. 17
Oct. 21
Zheng H
Cathy S
Rohit V
Slaiman N
Deborah C
Don C
Oct. 21
Oct. 22
Oct. 24
Oct. 26
Oct. 29
Oct. 31
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!
