GM’s Corner
A Season of New Beginnings: Easter, Renewal, and the Work We Share
In recent newsletters, I’ve been following a quiet theme: waiting, beginning, loving, turning. April carries that movement forward into Easter, where the story opens into renewal, hope, and new life.
For Christians, Easter is the great reminder that God brings life where we expect loss, hope where we feel weariness, and new beginnings where things may have seemed finished. It is a story of renewal that continues to speak, both in faith and in the ways we witness hope and new life around us.
That feels close to the heart of the MCC Care & Share Thrift Shop.
At the shop, new beginnings happen every day in ordinary but meaningful ways. Donated items are given a second life. Shoppers find what they need at prices they can manage. Simple household goods, clothing, and furniture become part of someone else’s next step. And behind it all are volunteers whose steady service helps make this place welcoming, practical, and full of dignity.
A thrift shop may not be the first-place people think of when they hear words like resurrection or renewal, but perhaps it should be. So much of what happens here is about restoration. Things are reused instead of discarded. Resources are shared. People are helped. Small acts of care become part of something larger than themselves.
April also brings the beginning of a new fiscal year. While that may sound mostly administrative, it too is a kind of beginning. It gives us a chance to pause, to give thanks for what has been done, and to look ahead with renewed purpose. A new year invites us to continue this work with open hands, trusting that what is offered faithfully can do more good than we often realize.
That same spirit has been reflected in MCC Thrift’s Round Up for Relief campaign as it nears an end. It has been a meaningful reminder that even small acts of generosity can become real help for those facing hardship. Each rounded-up purchase may seem minor on its own, but together they become part of MCC’s wider relief work in the world. We are grateful for every shopper, volunteer, and act of support that helped make this effort possible. It is one more example of how everyday faithfulness can become something life-giving for others.
At Care & Share, I often return to the phrase “being the care and living the share.” Easter reminds us that this kind of love is never wasted. It becomes part of the renewal God is always bringing into the world.
In this season of Easter, and at the beginning of a new fiscal year, I give thanks for each of you. Your faithfulness, kindness, and servant-hearted work help make Care & Share a place where dignity is protected, needs are met, and hope remains possible.
Brian Ingram General Manager MCC Care & Share
Welcome!
New volunteers added to our family so far this month! Let’s welcome:
Casey K
Soheil M
Angelo N
Justin S
BIRTHDAYS April
Allison C
LeeAnne S
Sara Y 4/2 4/2 4/4
A blast from the past!
Nancy S
Eric D
Samiya N
Annette O
Maria Torres
Kevin O
Jung A K
Doug J
Edward L
Rosie C 4/11 4/16 4/19 4/26 4/27 4/28 4/28
With our upcoming fashion show just around the corner, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. Check out this incredible throwback from our volunteer, Joanna, rocking the runway during the 1999 show! Whether it’s 1999 or 2026, the style (and the community spirit) at Care & Share never goes out of fashion.
Here is a note from Joanna, a current volunteer! “Flashback to a humorous moment at the Care & Share fashion show in 1999. Esther Reesor (one of the shop’s founders) depicts a senior trying to wear 5-inch heels, assisted by me!”
Welcome Karen!
Please join us in welcoming Karen as the newest member of our retail staff team! Karen has already jumped in with a great attitude and a willingness to learn, and we’re excited to have her with us. Her positive energy and friendly approach are a wonderful addition to the store, and we look forward to the great work she will do alongside our team and volunteers. Be sure to say hello and help us give Karen a warm welcome!
A message from Karen:
My “story” is that I rescue and care. I adopted my son 22 years ago from Russia, rescued Nikki (my dog, pictured below) 4 years ago from SPCA and took in 2 feral cats that were wandering the neighbourhood (they’re now domestic) a year ago. As much as I “rescued” them, they have kept me safe and warm, and remind me everyday how precious life is! Adopting my son, especially, was the best decision of my life!
I was “born and bred” in retail. My mum owned a children’s store in Ireland when I was born, and as such, I became a “model” (LOL) at a very young age. My parents bought the General Store in Baldwin, ON,
Pow Wows 101
just south of Sutton, when I was 13. I worked in that store through my teenage years.
I worked retail at The Body Shop for 5 years (product, marketing and retail), Loblaws, Spar (retail merchandise co.), and Kraft (marketing), Unilever (marketing) and my girlfriend’s store (Loulou Boutique in Markham). I currently volunteer at Thrifty Corner at Springvale Church (free kids’ clothing, accessories, toys, open Sundays after service).
I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and working and learning from you!
Learn the basics of what Indigenous Pow Wows are all about. Attend in person in Kitchener or online.
Wordsearch of the Month
Put on your detective hat and find all the hidden words! Have fun!
April’s would you rather...
... have a permanent “April Showers” cloud follow you around (but only indoors), OR have a family of ducks follow you everywhere you go (but they only quack during your most important meetings)?
... always have one damp sock due to a surprise spring puddle, OR have a single cherry blossom petal permanently stuck to your forehead for the month?
... always be slightly/uncomfortably too cold because you forgot a jacket, OR always be sweating profusely because you wore your heavy winter coat on the one day it hit 20°C?
Spot The Difference!
Spring is in the air! Can you spot all 15 differences? You’ll find the answers at the end of the newsletter!
April Closures
A quick reminder that the shop will be closed on April 3 for Good Friday. We also wish you a time of reflection and celebration on Easter Sunday. I hope you will be able to spend time with your church community and families. The shop doors will again be open on what some consider to be Easter Monday. We look forward to seeing you then.
Spot the Difference Answer Key
• Top Left Sky: Rain cloud vs. small white cloud.
• Top Right Sky: Empty sky vs. a smiling sun.
• The Rainbow: Butterfly on the left vs. butterfly on the right of the rainbow.
• The Tower: Round clock face vs. Roman numeral clock face.
• The Tower Roof: Simple spire vs. ornate metal railing.
• The Sign: Reads “APRIL BLOOMS” vs. “SPRING BUDS.”
• The Umbrella: Rainbow stripes vs. floral pattern.
• The Picnic Blanket: A stack of books appears in the right image.
• The Tree: Extra blossom cluster on the lower branch.
• The Foreground Animals: Single white lamb vs. two yellow chicks.
• The Picnic Food: Square sandwiches vs. round buns.
• The Clothing: The girl on the blanket is wearing a red scarf in the right image.
• The Basket: The front flower basket has yellow daffodils vs. pink tulips.
• The Ground: A blue Easter egg moves from the tree base to the centre grass.
• The Far Background: The small house in the distance has a chimney in one and not the other.