SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Keeping our valued volunteers informed
GM’s Corner Welcome to September, Thrift on Kent volunteers!! We are saying good bye to many of our students who have volunteered through the summer and we welcome back many of our summer vacationers. You may have noticed our Back-to-School event in our front atrium in mid-August. That was a new initiative to begin experimenting with different ways to make our community aware of our work and to use that space creatively to increase revenue. That’s being entrepreneurial… and it’s one of our MCC Thrift values! Volunteer, Judith, served customers in the atrium during our recent Back to School event. Over the past couple of months I’ve used GM’s Corner to highlight two of our values: Innovate, and Sustainable. This month’s focus is Entrepreneurial - “innovative business-minded decision making that increases revenue and identifies opportunities.” Here are a couple of examples of how we live into this entrepreneurial value: Staff are equipped with tools to help us make business decisions. Our tags with bar codes and our point-of-sale system provides data that informs the amount of floor space we should dedicate to various departments. Our decision to limit furniture to essential items is partially based on this data. Rob and Dianne are volunteers in our book and jewellery departments. In consultation with Shop leadership
and support from MCC Thrift’s Communications and Marketing department, they have taken an entrepreneurial approach to inviting new donors to contribute to our work. They make regular “sales calls” to local businesses, encouraging managers to consider Thrift on Kent as a great place to donate their excess product. Thanks, Rob and Dianne! Thank you for being part of our passionate volunteer team, supporting our entrepreneurial approach to business in the K-W area!
Tim Albrecht
General Manager MCC Thrift on Kent
SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Introducing our two new staff members! Sola (pronounced “Shola”) is a Receiving Team Member here at MCC Thrift on Kent. The receiving end is the first step where all things donated are received and then sorted. The receiving end determines the pace of the work in the Thrift shop. What is being processed, how quickly it is being done, and how much is done in each department depends on how it is arranged in the back end. As a receiving team member, he ensures all things received are well organized in boxes by department so that sorting is easier and products move to their departments quickly. One of the main things he’s enjoyed so far is interacting with donors directly. He sees people happily, willingly donating good items. He gets motivated and passionate seeing people donate items they could have thrown out, but they come to our shop to support humanity and the work of MCC instead. This speaks about what MCC stands for, as people trust the mission of MCC. When people come up to donate good items, they are happy we can help them. This fuels his passion to contribute to the organization, as he sees people give freely even when it is inconvenient. If he could have dinner with anyone (living or dead), Sola would have one more meal with his dad. He is glad he was with his dad when he passed, and the last two years before he died, they had become very close. He wishes they had had a stronger bond earlier. What he told him in his final years makes him wish they had more time to talk. His dad was huge
on contentment and believed “if we all do our part to support humanity, then the universe will abound towards us the essence of humanity, and that makes the world a better place.” He would love to have one more meal with him, spend time with him and to say thank you for his wisdom, his teaching and for the man he was. What would he choose if he could ride a bike, ride a horse or drive a car? He has done all three, and knows that each offers a different experience. But on a horse, beyond just being in charge, you see yourself as being special in a sense that your role is to direct where you are going, rather than be solely in charge. It feels more natural and more relaxing compared to riding a bike or driving a car. Tetiana is our new Retail Staff Member. Many of you know her, as she has been a volunteer with us, and was a seasonal staff member. On the weekends, Tetiana and her husband love to take short trips in Ontario to see art galleries, natural places - like Niagara Falls, and other sites. Tetiana is from Ukraine, and she says that living in Canada is like her second life and she feels like a kid – full of wonder and curiosity! She enjoys embroidery and gardening in her free time. She has a cat named Josephine, which they brought along from Ukraine. Their cat is like their daughter :). Her son is still in Ukraine, and she prays every day that the war will be done soon and that he will be safe. If she could travel, she would love to visit Newfoundland and see the whales in the ocean.
Undercurrents Podcast Before the next season of Undercurrents kicks off in September, take a moment to catch up on last season in a recap episode (#41): mcc.org/undercurrents. Each episode includes discussion questions so you can gather a group and listen together!
SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Welcome! A big welcome to our new volunteers! We have included their pictures to help you identify them and the shifts they are on. Is there someone new volunteering on your shift? Make a point of finding them and saying hello!
Rose housewares Thurs mornings
Nyandeng - Sat afternoons in retail, and Mon afternoons in receiving
And welcome to some new students who are joining us in various retail positions! Riti, IBK, Amelia and Brooklyn. Thank you for your help!
Unique donations of the month! Thanks to Shelley, Carol and Susan for modelling these unique donations!
SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Part 1: From donations to sales Have you ever wondered how we decide what to sell from our donations and what we do with the rest? Some volunteers may find this information helpful for understanding the process, both to answer shoppers’ questions and to inform them about what to donate and what not to donate! And of course, some of you are curious and want to know more about how this enterprise works. My mom is of the generation that mends socks, reuses teabags, and turns collars (some of you may not know what that is!). Many in her generation think that everything can have a second life and should be put to use. However, in our society today, there is an overabundance of everything, and fixing and even reusing aren’t very popular since new things are easily accessible (Amazon delivery tomorrow) and relatively inexpensive. These are some of the reasons repairing and reusing has declined and we have a problem with so much garbage in our society.
with missing pieces, electronics with expensive, depleted reusable batteries, scratched coffee tables, books with coffee stains, rusty garden tools, etc. Unfortunately, sometimes it seems that people think we can miraculously clean things or magically fix things. These items either get recycled (metals) or go into the garbage. You may say, “can’t some of these items be cleaned or fixed?” Yes, sometimes it is possible. However, that requires some logistics such as a place to store them until someone can fix them, finding people who are qualified to fix things, and the cost of parts to fix things. This is an area where we have not ventured due to these challenges. In the next few months, we will feature different departments and share a bit about how we decide what to sell, and what happens with the things we don’t sell.
In every department here at Thrift on Kent, people donate unsellable items. Some examples are T-shirts with a stain, torn pants (not torn in a cool way), games
Giselle Carter
Volunteer Engagement Manager MCC Thrift on Kent
Shout-outs and Thank you’s A big thank you to both Henna and Alastair, who have worked with us this summer! They fit in super well and worked hard, doing many different roles. We wish you well for the fall! Good news - Henna will be back as a seasonal staff to help with the Christmas rush! Thank you to those who helped with our Back to school event in the atrium! It was something new that we tried, and we appreciate all the extra help from both volunteers and staff. Liz, Judith, Cheryl, Helen, Deborah, Diane, Rachel, Connie and Lisa all gave extra time to make sure it was a success! Thanks also to Alyssa, Spencer, Priya, and the rest of the retail staff for helping with this.
SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
September
BIRTHDAYS Gail (cash) Patricia (retail) Pat (toys) Rose (housewares) Jean (housewares Sarah (receiving)
9/1 9/1 9/2 9/4 9/5 9/5
Ann (cash) Corinne (cash) Angie (cash) Karl (electrical) Greg (receiving) Walter (receiving) Margaret (retail) Sandra H (cash) Anne (retail) Becky (clothing) Curtis (receiving)
9/6 9/9 9/9 9/13 9/14 9/14 9/14 9/15 9/16 9/18 9/19
Susi (clothing) 9/20 Sheldon (receiving/ electrical)9/20 Trudy (retail) 9/21 Cec (electrical) 9/24 Philip (media) 9/25 Brigitte (cash) 9/27 Cai (media) 9/27 Henry (electrical) 9/28 Claire (books) 9/28
Community Coffee Community Coffee will be the week of Sept. 14-19, 10:30 and 2:30 daily. (the first full working week of the month). Join shop leadership and other volunteers for this time of connection, while being informed of updates and inspired to keep up the great work!
Closure Notice Note: we are closed on Monday September 7th for Labour Day. As always, we are looking for a few extra people to help with the pull on the morning of Tuesday, September 8th. Let Giselle (GiselleCarter@mcco.ca) or Eun Kyoung (EunKyoungPark@mcco.ca) know if you are able to help.
When you need to miss a shift We all get sick, have appointments, go on holidays, and need to miss a shift. If you are going to be away, please email both Giselle and your supervisor.
TOYS, ELECTRICAL AND HARDWARE VOLUNTEERS
RETAIL VOLUNTEERS - Cashiers, Retail Store, Retail Fashion
Robin (mornings) - RobinSapkota@mcco.ca
Eun Kyoung - EunKyoungPark@mcco.ca RECEIVING VOLUNTEERS Chuck (Wed-Sat) - ChuckKuepfer@mcco.ca FASHION, LINEN, AND JEWELRY VOLUNTEERS Joanie - JoanieWillms@mcco.ca Alyssa - AlyssaDavis@mcco.ca
Agabus - AgabusBhujel@mcco.ca HOUSEWARES, BOOK & MEDIA VOLUNTEERS Priya - PriyaMathu@mcco.ca FURNITURE AND METAL RECYCLING Luke - LukeCotie@mcco.ca
SEPTEMBER 2026
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
Fall BBQ Come join us as we welcome everyone back and kick off the fall with a BBQ on Thursday, September 24 and Friday, September 25! It’s a great time to mingle with staff and volunteers! Any volunteer is welcome! If you volunteer on a different day, hopefully you can make it out on either Thursday or Friday. Calling musicians! Would you be willing to share your talent and add to the ambiance of the BBQ? Please bring your instruments along and play for us. Sign up is required so we know how many people to expect. Please sign up in the breakroom.
FA L L
BBQ SEPTEMBER 24 & 25, 12:00 - 1:15 PM BURGERS (VEGETARIAN TOO), SALADS, CHIPS, LEMONADE AND FRUIT PROVIDED
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2026
Workroom Buying Policy Reminder Our workroom buying policy states: “if a staff member or volunteer wish to purchase an item that is not in the retail area, they must request that their Manager, or their designated Lead, price the item before taking it to the till for purchase.” Our donors entrust us with their things, in good faith that the proceeds go to MCC. This means that any unpriced item in the workroom (whether destined for the retail floor or recycling/garbage) that has value to you, should be priced by a staff member. You can then take the price tag to the cash counter to pay for it before you leave the store. Thank you for respecting this policy.
Peaceful Practices for Everyday Life Peaceful practices grow out of MCC’s Christian faith and Anabaptist peace tradition, but they offer wisdom for people of all faith backgrounds or no religious background at all. Peace is not only something we hope for in the world; it is something we practice in everyday interactions. These practices invite us to listen with care, stay curious, speak honestly and treat each person with dignity. This quarter’s invitation: In a moment of tension or disagreement, pause before responding. Choose curiosity, ask a thoughtful question or listen to understand. Small choices like these help us grow together as a community of peace.
Creating a Respectful Volunteer Environment Our Volunteer Code of Conduct helps create a welcoming and respectful environment for everyone. Volunteers are expected to volunteer in a manner that reflects our mission: “MCC shares God’s love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice. MCC envisions communities worldwide in right relationship with God, one another, and creation.” One important expectation is: Deal with conflicts or difficulties in an appropriate manner. Challenges and disagreements happen. What matters is how we respond. We encourage volunteers to bring concerns forward respectfully, listen to different perspectives, and work with staff toward a constructive solution. A helpful reminder: If something is bothering you during your volunteer experience, please speak with your supervisor, manager or use the Speak Up service. We want to hear your concerns. Want to learn more? The full Volunteer Code of Conduct is included in the Volunteer Orientation Manual and the Speak Up service information is posted on a designated board. Ask a staff member where you can find a copy of the Volunteer Orientation Manual or the Speak Up poster and take a few minutes to review it. Thank you for helping us live out our mission through the way we treat one another.
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2026
Join the Soup of the Month Club! The Raw Carrot Soup of the Month Subscription is available for preorder. By joining, you will receive one of 10 delicious, exclusive soups each month (from September 2026 to June 2027). Purchases support the Raw Carrot program and provide meaningful employment to individuals with disAbilities. For more information or to preorder, visit the website: shop.therawcarrot.com/collections/kitchener/products/soup-of-the-month-club or email mcco@therawcarrot.com.
Customer Experience Training One of MCC’s Strategic Priorities is to ‘provide professional development that equips all staff and all active, long-term volunteers to deliver the various Thrift Shop activities and services with excellence’. In light of this, we have created a workshop to equip cashiers and all retail shop volunteers to represent MCC well in their positive interactions with customers. We are asking all retail volunteers to please join us for one of the customer experience workshops we have scheduled. This workshop will be offered a few times this fall, and again a few times in winter. Please look at your calendars and sign up in the breakroom for the training that you are able to attend. • Thursday, September 24 1-2:30 (after the BBQ) • Tuesday, October 6, 12:30-2:30 (lunch provided at 12:30) • Wednesday, October 21, 10:30-12:30 (lunch provided at 12)
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
You’re invited: Truth & Reconciliation (TR) Learning Days 2026 Volunteers are warmly invited to take part in one of MCC Ontario’s TR Learning Days 2026, Walking the Path of Peace: Learning from Indigenous approaches to relationship, community, and reconciliation. This virtual half-day learning opportunity will be offered on Tuesday, September 22 from 9 am - 12 pm or Wednesday, September 23, 9 am - 12 pm and volunteers are welcome to choose one of the dates that works best for them. Together, we’ll listen, reflect, and consider what MCC Ontario can learn from Indigenous understandings of peacebuilding, right relationship, community, and care for creation. The morning will include time in virtual small groups for conversation and connection, as well as self-guided learning using the resources provided. Those who register will receive the agenda and more details about how to participate. For more information contact volunteerservices@mcco.ca to register visit bit.ly/trdmcco2026volunteers.
THRIFT VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2026
Bucket of Thanks On Saturday, August 29, The MCC Hub in New Hamburg became a place of connection, generosity, and hands-on service. Throughout the morning and early afternoon, people of all ages gathered to pack MCC relief kits into buckets, filling them with practical items that will one day bring comfort, dignity, and hope to families facing hardship around the world. As I watched towels, bath soap, laundry soap, shampoo, nail clippers, combs, toothbrushes, and feminine pads being packed into buckets, I couldn’t help but think about where these supplies came from. They were purchased through the Round-Up for Relief campaign that many of you helped promote in our thrift shops earlier this year. Every time you invited a customer to round up their purchase, you were helping make this day possible. What may have felt like a small conversation at the cash register became something much bigger. Because of the generosity of customers and the encouragement of our volunteers, more than 250 relief kits were packed and prepared for a future MCC shipment from New Hamburg. The photos from the event tell a wonderful story. They show people packing buckets, working side by side, and sharing in a common purpose. They also tell another story, one that began months earlier in our shops. The impact captured in these pictures is a direct result of volunteers who took the time to ask, customers who chose to give, and a community that came together to turn generosity into action. Thank you for being part of that story. Thank you for the many ways you support the mission of MCC through your service in our thrift shops. Because of your efforts, these buckets are now ready to make their journey into the hands of people who need them most. Your work matters. And this Bucket of Thanks is for you.
Lynda Lynch Thrift Director