As this year is the International Year of Volunteers, I wanted to take some time to thank you all for the work that you do. No job done in the shop is a small or inconsequential job, and I wanted to express my gratitude at your dedication and steadfast presence in the shop. I know the past few months have come with some uncertainty and stress, but I want you all to know that the heart of the shop lies with each of you. I’ve been popping into the shop now and then and
VEM Inspiration
We are halfway through the second quarter of 2026! Can you believe it? What a fun time 2026 has been! We celebrated the gift of your service last month during Volunteer Appreciation Week, hosted UMEI students, relished the sweetness of warmer weather and ate lots of fresh strawberries!
I am looking forward to enjoying the rest of Spring with you all. Let us make it count!
May will be a time of renewed connections for many of us. We will connect with loved ones for graduations, weddings, and parties. In our celebrations let us remember to savour the moment of community.
Let us connect with one another in creative ways, connect with nature, and reconnect with someone you have been thinking about lately!
Happy Mother’s Day Thrift on Mill family! Thanks
every time I run into one of you, I’m reminded of the individual spirit you each bring and how lucky I was to get to experience it every day – and still do, albeit in smaller doses.
Life really is about the people we meet and create connections with along this crazy journey. Thank you for being a part of mine!
Caitlin Sousa
Thrift Operations & Training Manager
MCC Thrift
for listening, caring, sharing, and developing your children into healthy and profitable folks!
I look forward to celebrating a new month with you all!
LiTunjia Olubusi
Volunteer Engagement Manager
MCC Thrift on Mill
Mother’s Day Celebration
Let us celebrate all the wonderful ladies in our lives with a special tea on Monday, May 11, 2026 at noon! RSVP by emailing LiTunjia litunjiaolubusi@mcco.ca.
Around the Shop
May
BIRTHDAYS
Deanna Pecherle 5/1
Shirley Driedger 5/5
Diego Boomhower 5/7
Eva Fehr 5/15
Teresa Manning 5/16
Tracy Sharron 5/19
Irma Tiessen 5/21
Susanna Harms 5/21
Harold Rempel 5/22
Edward 5/24
Welcome!
A warm welcome to Angela, Mary, Abigail, Louise, Bob, Deanna, Jaime, and Jackson! Thank you for joining the Thrift on Mill volunteer team. Your fresh energy adds inspiration and warmth to our community!
Thought of the Month
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream” – C.S. Lewis
Each episode invites perspective shifts, deeper relationships, and meaningful action—offering hope, challenge, and practical faith for a complex world. Undercurrents is now on YouTube. Host Ken Ogasawara is a skilled storyteller whos video adds depth and impact.
The April episode takes you behind the scenes at MCC Thrift shops and features a special photo of three generations connected to our shop—well worth a listen! Visit by clicking the link above.
MCC Thrift Pilot Project
MCC Thrift is piloting a new initiative that aims to create meaningful part-time work opportunities for people in our community who face barriers to employment. Over the coming months, we’ll be testing small projects that use donated materials to create new, revenue-generating products, while also diverting items from landfills in alignment with MCC’s commitment to creation care. This work is very much a learning process, and we’ll be trying ideas, seeing what works, and adjusting as we go.
For most staff, day-to-day operations will remain largely the same, though you may notice some materials being set aside, new faces in the stores, or opportunities to share ideas or support specific activities. We’re excited about the potential to generate additional support for MCC’s work while creating new ways to include and empower people in our community, and we’ll continue to share updates and welcome your input as the initiative develops.
If you would like to talk more about this initiative please reach out to Jodi VanNoord @ jodivannoord@mcco.ca
Kind Refreshers from Human Resources
• With warm weather approaching, let’s save our well-loved sandals for off-duty days, wearing comfortable and supportive closed-toed shoes when volunteering.
• Drink plenty of water, stay hydrated, take breaks as needed, and keep your supervisor informed for selfcare.
• If it’s been a while since your last orientation, feel free to register for an upcoming session—a great way to refresh and meet new faces!
Timmins Learning Tour
August 17 – 21 in Timmins, Ontario
Pack your bags and get ready to be inspired and learn as we embark on an exciting journey to connect and engage with organizations and partners of MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program in Timmins, Ontario. mcc.org/events/timmins-learning-tour
New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale
May 29-30, 2026 at the New Hamburg Fairgrounds
Plan to make the trip to Canada’s biggest relief sale and quilt auction! There’s no shortage of things to see, do and taste at the 60th annual New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale, where funds raised support the work of MCC at home and around the world. Come for the food, stay for the auctions. See you at the fairgrounds! nhmrs.com
Pow Wows 101
May 13 (12 p.m., in-person/online) & May 14 (7 p.m., online)
MCC Indigenous Neighbours offers two sessions introducing pow wows and how to participate, helping firsttime attendees feel more comfortable. Learn more at mcc.org/pow-wow-101
Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion
Saturday, June 13 from 9am – 1pm at Six Nations Polytechnic in Oshweken, Ontario
A special community event featuring Adrian Jacobs of the Turtle Clan, Cayuga Nation, sharing on the Spiritual Covenant—a reflection on land, relationship and reconciliation. Includes a thanksgiving with strawberries— the first fruit of the season and a sacred gift in Haudenosaunee culture, as well as sharing communion and a delicious lunch together. mcc.org/strawberry-thanksgiving
Final Thoughts
May brings the sunshine after the rain, let us enjoy some vitamin D, together!
