GM’s Corner
A happy summer to you! As a staff, we all hope that you’re having a great start to summer, and that you’re getting to enjoy the beautiful weather! There are few things better than getting outside to enjoy a sunny day with friends and family.
We’ve got lots of great things happening at the Thrift shop over the summer! To start with, we will have two summer students working with us – Megan Hopkins will be joining us in June to help in the retail space, and Elowynne Xiong will be joining us in early July to help with processing and receiving. They are both bright, smart and engaging students and we are excited to have them with us!
We’re happy to let you know that the ice cream machine will be coming back to visit for the week of August 10th! Join us for a time of fellowship
News from your VEM
Thank you for your feedback on our June newsletter, especially the article about the New Social Enterprise Pilot Project. Your interest was appreciated, and we were pleased to have a couple of our volunteers submit their resumes and cover letters to Jodi. We look forward to learning more about this exciting project in July.
We continue to have a strong need for volunteers, especially as we head into the summer months. We want our volunteers to enjoy time away at their cottages,
and celebrate as we serve you up some cold treats to say thank you for all you do!
Over the course of the summer, Melanie and I will be doing several talks about our learning tour. Join us July 7th and August 12th in the meeting room of the Hub to hear all about our trip, the work MCC does in Cambodia and the impact that your work is having in the lives of others.
As always, I want to close by saying thank you for all that you do. The shop and the work of MCC would not be possible without you, and your time and efforts are deeply appreciated. You are making a difference in someone’s life every day!
Mark Patfield
General Manager
MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre
camps, and trailers while knowing MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre remains well supported. Additional helping hands during the summer will help ensure that those who continue volunteering have the support they need.
Julie Hause
Volunteer Engagement Manager
MCC New Hamburg Thrift Centre juliehause@mcco.ca
Safety Corner: Weather Watches and Warnings
Understanding the NEW system in Canada
Safety tips from Severe weather preparedness tips
Environment and Climate Change Canada uses colourcoded weather alerts consisting of yellow, orange, and red watches and warnings.
Weather watches are issued when the conditions are favourable for the development of severe weather in the future. Weather warnings are issued when severe weather has developed and is currently occurring or imminent. For example, a tornado watch means there is the potential for a tornado to develop based on the weather conditions. A tornado warning means a tornado has touched down or is forming and poses an immediate risk.
These weather watches and warnings are further categorized as yellow, orange, or red based on
the potential impact and severity of the weather conditions. These colour categories allow you to quickly understand how the weather could impact your day.
Yellow watches and warnings are used for short-term, localized weather conditions that have a moderate impact on the community.
Orange watches and warnings are used for weather events that cause widespread damage and disruption lasting a couple of days
Red watches and warnings are rarely used as they are reserved for dangerous, life-threatening weather conditions.
The image below demonstrates the difference in impact and severity of a yellow, orange, and red warning for high wind.
You’re Invited: Bucket of Thanks
From the MCC Hub in New Hamburg, thousands of kits, cans and comforters get shipped around the world. Discover the care that goes into a kit and pack one yourself for someone affected by conflict or disaster. See how we meet urgent needs and make a global impact — one kit at a time. Join us on August 29 at the MCC Hub (65 Heritage Dr., New Hamburg).
Volunteer Opportunities
Please share the following volunteer opportunities with your family and friends. High school students looking to complete their volunteer hours are especially encouraged to apply, as they can finish this requirement before returning to school. Volunteering provides valuable experience that helps build confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. Students can also strengthen their résumés by gaining experience in customer service, sorting and organizing donations.
Floor Opportunities:
Tagging Donations
Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM*
Recieving
Tuesday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Wednesday & Thursday 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Saturdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM & 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM*
Sorting Donations
Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM*
Floor Support
Saturdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM*
Saturdays 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM* (2 openings)
Mondays & Wednesdays 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Thursdays (bi-weekly) 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Mondays 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM (morning pull of sale items)
Cashiers
Saturdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM*
Saturdays 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM* (2 openings)
* indicates urgent need
Canned Meat Tasting Event
We are partnering with Material Resources to host a canned chicken tasting event during the week of July 6–10. Volunteers are invited to the kitchen at 65 Heritage Drive to sample a hot and a cold chicken dish and learn more about the cannery program and the support it provides both internationally and here in Waterloo Region.
Volunteers will have the opportunity to pre-order cans of chicken for family and friends at a cost of $12 per can. You may also purchase a can to be donated to a local food bank. Orders will be available for pickup during the week of September 14.
Participants will also learn about the canning process and nutritional information. Each can contains six grams of salt and 674 grams (approx. 1.5 lbs) of uncooked chicken breast which is cooked for more than two hours in a large pressure cooker before being cooled, wiped and labeled.
Stop by on your way out after a morning shift or before your afternoon shift to enjoy a sample and learn more about this impactful program. Below you’ll find a couple of recipes that would work well with some canned chicken!
July
BIRTHDAYS
Cecil W.
Anne H.
Louis S.
Kim C.
Karen S.
Carol L.
Paula F.
Christine S.
Wendy J.
Carolyn H.
Stan K.
Around the Shop
One of the Teletubbies came to visit the shop!
Glenn Z.
Susan E.
Denise H.
Grace H.
Gail M.
Jim G.
Mary P.
Donna S.
Jim B.
Evan B.
Myron W.
Floris L.
Darryl V.
Volunteer Appreciation Event:
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 6:00 pm Save the date!
Reminder!
Even though it finally feels like summer weather, please remember: sandals are not permitted. Please wear closed toe shoes. Thank you. Join us to hear about MCC in Cambodia!
Join Melanie and Mark on July 7th and August 12th in the learning room of the Hub to hear all about our trip and the work MCC does in Cambodia.
