GM’s Corner
A New Look for a New Day
By the time you read this, we will be only a few days away from our retail flip.
This change is about more than moving shelves, fixtures, and departments. It is an opportunity to give MCC Thrift Care & Share a fresh look and make better use of the space we have. Our hope is to create a shop that feels more open, easier to move through, and easier for customers to enjoy.
Some changes have already begun, particularly in the toys, media, games, and book areas. Other familiar departments will soon move to new locations. Broader department signs will identify the main areas of the shop, and additional information will help explain the new layout. When customers have questions, please help where you can. When you are unsure, please direct them to a staff member. It will take time for all of us to learn where everything belongs.
A great deal of thought and planning has gone into these changes, and we know every idea may not work as well as we hope. Some parts of the plan have already changed as we worked through the details, and some decisions cannot be fully judged until the new layout is in place.
Trying something new always brings some uncertainty. Still, we believe these changes can make a real difference in how the shop looks, feels, and functions. Our hope is that they will lead to a stronger and more welcoming Care & Share shop, better prepared to serve Stouffville in the years ahead.
While the main move has not happened yet, a tremendous amount of work has already taken place behind the scenes. I want to thank our staff and
every volunteer who has shared ideas, prepared departments, moved merchandise, painted, repaired, measured, organized, or helped us get ready.
A special thank you goes to Scott for the many repairs, moves, painting projects and preparations he has completed or assisted with. Much of this work may not be obvious when everything is finished, but it has been essential.
As we move into the actual flip, I ask for your patience and grace. There will likely be confusion, last-minute changes and moments when things do not go according to plan.
I also want to apologize for any times when changes were made but not properly communicated. We have tried to keep everyone informed, but I know there have been times when information did not reach everyone as clearly as it should have.
Please keep Care & Share, our staff, our volunteers, and this move in your prayers. Pray for safety, patience, cooperation, and wisdom as we take this next step together.
Finally, if you have not yet signed up but are available to help, please speak with Selina, Daya or me. Every willing pair of hands will make a difference.
We do not know exactly how every part of this will unfold, but we are hopeful about what it can become and grateful to everyone helping us move forward together as we continue
Being the Care and Living the Share.
Brian Ingram General Manager MCC Care & Share
August
BIRTHDAYS
Jessie L.
Lara K.
Susie N.
Anat K.
Amira N. 8/1 8/4 8/8 8/11 8/15
Joke of the Month
Q: What do you call a fake noodle?
A: An Im-pasta
Peter M.
Margaret M.
Ann R.
Mac O.
Hui H.
Yannan G.
Manija F.
Jade C.
Grace W.
Lisa C. 8/15 8/16 8/17 8/18 8/26 8/26 8/27 8/28 8/29 8/30
Welcome!
We welcome our new volunteers who started with us recently!
Rhona M
Jerry M
Rehan U
Justine D
Keziah F
Chance G
Evan O
Arya A
Christian M
Isaac T
Dave M
Cyrus K
Kylie R
Rida F
Davin L
Laura K
Justin R
Sawyer B
Wordsearch of the Month
Put on your detective hat and find all the hidden words! Have fun!
Around the Shop
Did you hear?! Our meat cannery is now up and running! Marielle and Selina have worked tirelessly day and night (aka a whole 4 hours) learning and canning the meat themselves! What a great experience it was; we highly recommend taking a day trip out to New Hamburg (65 Heritage Road) with some friends to check out the cannery! You will also be able to volunteer, tour the facility, and see firsthand the various things that MCC does locally and globally! Check out the opportunity below to order your own cans!
The ABLE Network is always finding meaningful ways to give back to the community and support those around them. We were so grateful to enjoy this lovely lunch they put together for their community partners, it was such a thoughtful and appreciated gesture!
We are especially grateful for the wonderful individuals we get to welcome into our shop each week. We always look forward to seeing Jonathan and Ryan on Monday mornings, and Dom and Rielle on Tuesday mornings! Their hard work, kindness, and positive energy are such a wonderful part of our week.
Thank you to the ABLE Network for your continued partnership and for all the ways you pour into our community. We are so grateful to work alongside you!
Most of you have even tried the chicken in the shop! Whether it was in soup, in pasta or on its own, we encourage you to keep trying more and sharing with family and friends! It’s a great cause and we are so grateful for your support!
We love music here at the shop! Captured is a sweet moment of Vincent, Bill, Sean and Marielle singing happy birthday to Anne!
Bear necessities: found right here on our shelves!
Peace Conference: Nourishing Peace Together
Saturday, November 7, Rockway Mennonite Collegiate, Kitchener
If you’re hungry for connection, meaning and practical ways to resist despair in a world that feels overwhelming, plan to be at this year’s Peace Conference. MCC Ontario is hosting an in person event for people who don’t have everything figured out but who want to build peace. Attendees will:
• Learn how to practice peace in everyday life
• Hear from courageous people pursuing justice, reconciliation and care in hard places
• Share food, stories and space
• Take action, like knotting comforters and sending advocacy letters, to remind us we’re not powerless Register at mcc.org/Ontario-Peace-Conference
Volunteer Story: One Comforter at a Time: Christa Bender’s cross-Canada journey by bicycle
What do a bicycle, a sewing machine, and a dream have in common? For Christa Bender, a volunteer with MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre, they became part of an inspiring 10,600-kilometre journey across Canada. As Christa cycled from the Pacific to the Atlantic, she collected fabric from thrift stores along the way and created 15 comforter tops for MCC, combining her love of quilting with a commitment to serving others. Her story is a beautiful reminder of how faith, community, and simple acts of care can make a lasting impact. Read more about Christa’s remarkable adventure at the following: mcec.ca/article/26142-one-comforter-at-a-time-christa-benders-cross-canada-journey-by-bicycle.
Help Spread the Word About MCC Ontario’s Local Programs
Dear MCC Volunteers,
Thank you for generously sharing your skills and time to further MCC’s mission. Your dedication makes a real difference in the lives of many.
We invite you to help amplify the impact of our local programs. By spreading the word, you can inspire more people to join us in sharing God’s compassion for all through relief, development, and peace-building efforts in Ontario.
Please complete the survey below. Your feedback will help us understand your knowledge of MCC’s Ontario programs. As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a random draw for a $50 MCC Thrift Shop gift card. Respond by Friday, August 28th. www.surveymonkey.com/r/5BY7GJS
Where taste meets impact
For nearly 80 years, MCC has been canning meat and shipping it to countries facing food insecurity and hunger crises. Now you can cook up recipes with a can (or case) of your very own. From now until September 1, place an order for a can of delicious chicken breast, fully cooked in its own juices with just a pinch of salt. Every purchase directly supports future shipments of meat to neighbours in Ontario and around the world. Visit any of the six Ontario Thrift shops today to place an order place your order directly on the website: mcc-kit-supplies.square.site.
