GM’s Corner
The Work of Care at MCC Care & Share
As the month of May arrives and Mother’s Day approaches, I find myself thinking about and remembering with gratitude my own mother and grandmother, both of whom shaped me deeply. My grandmother lived with us until her death when I was 10. My mother, though she died in 1995, was a steady presence in my life through many difficult years.
As a child, I had several health issues and, as a result, spent a great deal of time with both. From my grandmother came my love of food and cooking, but the lessons I learned went deeper. It wasn’t about food; it was about feeding, about caring, providing, nurturing, and meeting the needs of those we love.
The lessons from my mother were quieter but just as important: a steady, dependable love.
As is often the case, it was my mother who took me to appointments, who accompanied me to the hospital, and stayed as she was able. In more ways than I could ever express, she was the one who kept showing up. She was not always expressive with her emotions, but through her actions she taught sacrifice, consistency, and the kind of love that stays through the good and the bad.
Mother’s Day can hold many emotions and many memories. For me it brings these things to mind: care that is practical, love that is steady, and the quiet work of showing up for others.
Those qualities are present in so much of what happens at MCC Care & Share: time given, patience offered, small tasks done well, and a willingness to handle what is in front of us with care. In a shop like ours, that matters.
The atmosphere of a Thrift shop is shaped not only by what is sold, but by how people are treated, how work is done, and whether people feel welcomed when they come through the door.
That is part of what makes this work meaningful. We are not simply selling things. We are extending usefulness, preserving dignity, and turning what might have been overlooked or discarded into something that can serve again. There’s care in that. There’s stewardship in that. There is even a kind of hope in that.
Through MCC, that care travels further. Everything we do here becomes part of the wider mission of relief, development, and peace. The ordinary work of an average day connects to something larger. What may seem simple in the moment becomes part of practical care and support for others, near and far. That’s one reason care feels like such an appropriate theme for Mother’s Day. Many of us learned our earliest lessons about care not through big speeches or larger-than-life efforts, but through daily acts of provision, patience, and presence. Someone making sure we were fed, cared for, helped, or held together when life was difficult.
Mother’s Day reminds us that care is not always loud. Often, it is quiet, steady, and faithful. It shows up by being there, by doing what needs to be done, by offering what we can.
I see that spirit often in this place and feel blessed by it.
Thank you for the many ways you help MCC Care & Share be a place of welcome, care, and purpose. In your own quiet and faithful ways, you help us be the Care and live the Share.
Brian Ingram General Manager MCC Care & Share
Welcome!
New volunteers added to our family so far this month! Let’s welcome:
Alesha Q
Casey K
Chloe and Cheryl
Corradina W
Emil G
Faye P
Jim V
JohnJames S
May
BIRTHDAYS
Joanna R
Lilia B
Kimberly A
Roy O
Marie W 5/1 5/2 5/6 5/7 5/9
Joke of the Month
What did the rain cloud say to the dirt?
“Play nice, or your name will be mud!”.
Karim Z
Maija W
Melissa Y
Mia G
Rida F
Sorouche R
Theo G
Kahlan K
Ruslana M
Calvin K
Cathy B
Hyla O
Val I
Hope W
Ella K
Heather R
Wendy S 5/9 5/15 5/20 5/21 5/23 5/24 5/25 5/26 5/26 5/29
Reminder
Just a friendly reminder to you as you head through the checkout at our shop: To help everything run smoothly at the cash, please remember that your 20% volunteer discount card must be presented at the time of purchase in order to receive your discount. A couple of quick notes to keep in mind:
Your discount applies only to regular ticketed items and does not apply to your 3 allotted specially priced items
Each volunteer is issued one personal discount card, and it can’t be shared with others (friends, family, etc.)
Your selected 3 items must be purchased by the end of your shift and cannot be stored in the shop for “next time.”
Thanks for helping us keep things fair and organized and for all you do to support the team!
A message from your MCC Care & Share Staff Team
As we had national volunteer appreciation week last month we just wanted to say: Your volunteer work with MCC is kind of like the old chorus, “Pass it On.”
The lyrics of the 1970s classic go: It only takes a spark to get a fire going, And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing; That’s how it is with God’s love, Once you’ve experienced it, You spread the love to everyone You want to pass it on.
When you share your time and unique spark, people experience the warmth of kindness that spreads from person to person.
We as a staff team are celebrating your contribution with deep gratefulness. Thank you for:
• Every box of donations that you sort through
• Each shopper you help and transaction you handle
• All of the countless tasks you take on to keep the shop running
Your dedication and compassion support our day-to-day work, empowering other volunteers and staff to carry out MCC’s relief, development and peace work. Your steady presence makes a real difference, not just in what gets done, but in the way our community feels supported and welcomed. Thank you for choosing to give your time, energy, and heart so generously. We look forward to continuing this work together and seeing the ongoing impact of your love as it continues to spread!
Love, Your C&S Staff Team
Wordsearch of the Month
Put on your detective hat and find all the hidden words! Have fun!
Spot The Difference!
Spring is in the air! Can you spot all 7 differences? You’ll find the answers at the end of the newsletter!
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
MCC Undercurrents Podcast
Undercurrents, MCC Ontario’s podcast (mcc.org/impact/podcasts/undercurrents)
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!
Spot the Difference Answer Key
1. The sun has rays in one image and is plain in the other
2. The bird changes colour
3. The butterfly changes colour
4. The cloud is in a different position
5. One flower on the tree is a different colour
6. The book changes colour and symbol on the cover
7. The picnic blanket pattern and drink straw colour are different
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
Spring into Summer Fashion Show
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of thrifted fashion, sustainability, community impact, and light refreshments! Featuring curated looks, which will be available for sale, from MCC Care & Share Thrift Shop, this event highlights how affordable fashion choices can support meaningful change. Buy tickets at the shop or in advance online: mcc.org/events/spring-summer-fashion-show
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
