It’s been one year since we reopened for business after a major renovation to our facility! The year came with many challenges and changes. But at the end of March, we celebrated a significant milestone. We reached $1,000,000 in annual sales (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025) for the first time in our history (51 years). Thank you to each volunteer and staff member who worked so hard to make that a reality. Our work requires a strong team, including a community of shoppers and donors who are committed to supporting the work of our shop and of MCC.
As a volunteer or staff member, you are part of something bigger! Six MCC Thrift shops in Ontario form a strong network with the primary purpose of raising funds for the work of MCC locally and globally. With the addition of a Volunteer Engagement Manager in each our network shops, we are equipped to strengthen our volunteer presence in our communities. The person in this role will oversee volunteer recruitment and retention, manage the life cycle of volunteers and actively network with schools, churches and community organizations to promote opportunities at MCC Thrift.
You can be sure that the strengthening of our staff team is not done at the expense of our main goal. Our Thrift network goal, and a goal for each shop, is to increase our annual transfers to MCC by 10% by 2030. I will share more about MCC’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan in the months ahead.
BIRTHDAYS
Tymbi Gonsalves has completed her nine-week contract with us, providing support in our retail area and with onboarding of volunteers. Thank you, Tymbi, for your very knowledgeable and professional presence and support for our team. Tymbi is looking forward to resuming her volunteer duties on a regular weekly basis.
Thank you for your commitment to invest your time with us. It’s amazing what we accomplish together.
Tim Albrecht
General Manager
MCC Thrift, St. Catharines
Welcome!
Welcome to the following new volunteers who joined us recently!
MCC Thrift’s Million Dollar Milestone
MCC Thrift’s Million Dollar Milestone” – For the first time in our Shop’s 51 year history, we reached the $1,000,000 sales milestone in one fiscal year (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025)
Monday volunteers, celebrating $1,000,000 March 2025. MCC Photo/Tim Albrecht
Wednesday volunteers enjoy our million dollar milestone pizza lunches. March 2025. MCC Photo/Tim Albrecht
MCC Thrift Staff Team Responsibilities
Over the past year at MCC Thrift in St. Catharines, we have seen significant changes to our staff team. Some staff have moved on to new adventures, while others have transitioned into different roles within our shop. We’ve also added a few new faces to our staff team. The addition of a Volunteer Engagement Manager is an investment in the most significant part of our workforce, our volunteers. Many of our newer volunteers have personal goals to gain skills and experience, to learn English and to make community connections. Our volunteer engagement manager will be equipped to support these goals.
As a result of staff changes, you may notice some shifting responsibilities among our leadership team in the months ahead. Responsibilities of each staff member are as follows:
Leadership Team
Tim Albrecht (General Manager) will turn his attention toward raising the visibility of MCC Thrift and MCC in Niagara. This will mean a shift away from his previous focus on volunteer management and store operations. Tim will provide supervision of our leadership team members (John and Sherry). Tim’s supervisor is Karla Musselman, our MCC Ontario Thrift co-ordinator.
John Himes (Assistant Manager) will maintain a focus on the day-to-day operations of the Shop. He provides supervision of our four staff team members (Yamilet, Ana, Wes, Chris)
Sherry Main (Volunteer Engagement Manager) will invest her time in volunteer recruitment, onboarding, supporting and responding to the needs of our diverse volunteer team.
Team Members
Yamilet Corea, Team Member, Retail
Ana Galindo, Team Member, Processing - soft goods (clothing, linens, footwear, accessories, jewellery)
Wes Couture-Burke, Team Member, Processing - hard goods (housewares, home décor, toys, DVDs, etc.)
Chris Richardson, Team Member, Receiving and health and safety representative
Volunteer Scheduling – Who is Responsible?
Team members (retail, processing, receiving) are responsible for:
• Providing volunteers with daily direction in their department
• Finding replacements when a volunteer is absent The volunteer engagement manager will be responsible for:
• Initial volunteer placements
• Scheduling changes (e.g. when you request a different shift weekly)
• Verification of hours (high school students)
• Assisting with references, etc.
• Other volunteer requests
Welcome, Sherry Main
We are excited to announce that Sherry Main has been hired to serve as our Volunteer Engagement Manager! Sherry lives in Port Colborne and has been volunteering at the Port Thrift Shop, an MCC Ontario associate thrift shop. In the past she has served as the assistant to the executive director for MCC Ontario, and she and her husband have lived in Venezuela and Colombia, serving the church there. Sherry is fluent in Spanish and has most recently been working with newcomers to Canada. Her first day with us will be Tuesday April 8. We welcome Sherry to our team!
Storage Solutions!
You may have noticed the recent removal of two large shipping containers from behind our building. These served as permanent storage for seasonal product and store fixtures for many years. Metal recycling was done out of the 20-foot green container for a long time. During our renovation last year, it served as a place to receive donations. Building permits for our renovation required that these storage units be removed. We are seeking ongoing solutions to meet our needs. Our team member for receiving, Chris Richardson, deserves credit for managing our changing storage realities over the past year.
March 2025 MCC Photo/Tim Albrecht
Active Bystander Training
Join Active Bystander Training (TAB) to learn how to safely intervene when you see harmful or isolating behavior. We’ll address bullying, relationship abuse, sexual violence, and emotional distress—helping you overcome hesitation and respond nonviolently. Strengthen our community with everyday actions that make a difference. Sign up and be a force for good! For details, visit mcc.org/events/training-active-bystanders-niagara
A Tapestry of Healing and Hope
MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program is committed to walking alongside Indigenous communities in friendship and solidarity. We create opportunities to learn about the harmful impacts of colonization and residential schools, while equipping churches and individuals for meaningful reconciliation and peacebuilding.
One of the most powerful expressions of this commitment is Quilts for Survivors, founded by Vanessa Genier. This initiative began as a personal gesture of sewing quilts to comfort Residential School Survivors after the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites. From that simple act, a remarkable movement has flourished. Quilts for Survivors has already delivered over 6,000 quilts across Canada and aims to reach all 40,000 Survivors. Each quilt offers more than warmth. It stands for recognition, healing, and a visible reminder
that Survivors’ voices matter and their resilience is honored. These quilts are a touchpoint for renewed understanding and meaningful relationships— an invitation to listen, learn, and move toward reconciliation together.
Vanessa Genier shares a new quilt ready for a Residential School Survivor—one of thousands made through Quilts for Survivors, a movement bringing comfort, recognition, and hope across Canada. MCC
Photo/Heather Gallian
Myanmar Earthquake Response
MCC Ontario is proud to support Vanessa’s mission by helping secure a stable workspace, connecting her with volunteers, and contributing 40 quilts for distribution. Just as each quilt is carefully pieced together, so too is the relationshipbuilding and support that surrounds this work.
Your volunteer service at MCC Thrift is an essential thread in this tapestry of healing. Every hour you give and every item you help sell supports programs like Quilts for Survivors, extending compassion and hope into communities across Ontario and beyond. Thank you for being part of this journey toward reconciliation.
MCC will be responding to the earthquake in Myanmar. Donate now to support our local partners providing emergency food, hygiene supplies and blankets to families in need. Please pray for safety for those affected and for partner staff who are working to respond. The situation is made even more challenging after years of conflict, causing lack of electricity and the collapse of the healthcare system. Donate today to provide relief to people in need.
