Local MCC Thrift Shop marks 50 years

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This article was published 26/08/2023 (861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon MCC Thrift Shop is commemorating its 50th anniversary this year.

Operating under the Mennonite Central Committee, the store’s impact on the community, its volunteers and its numerous accomplishments stand as a testament to its dedication to making a positive difference.

“It started with some Altona ladies who wanted to see how they could help people in need and send goods and products overseas,” Brandon MCC Thrift Shop manager Shelly Burrows said of the store’s origins. “But that was getting difficult because of customs, and you had to have everything listed and stuff. So, they were wondering how they could turn it into cash and then buy things over there to help people in need.”

She said that when the ladies realized the challenges of shipping and customs, they decided to turn their efforts into a thrift shop to generate funds. Inspired by the Altona group’s initiative, four women in Brandon stepped up to establish their own thrift shop roughly a year later on Oct. 19, 1973.

Over the years, the thrift store has become a pillar of the Brandon community, impacting lives in various ways.

“The board for this thrift shop has always felt that they wanted to make things affordable for people in need,” said Burrows, who joined the store in 2010. To her, this commitment to affordability has provided essential items to individuals and families who may be struggling, ensuring they have access to necessities at a reasonable cost.

Volunteers have been at the heart of the thrift store’s success. Currently boasting around 150 volunteers, the store’s impact has been far-reaching, with volunteers not only coming from Brandon but also from surrounding areas such as Killarney and Virden. Some even travel from Saskatchewan to offer their assistance. According to Burrows, the volunteers, hailing from diverse backgrounds and ages, have contributed their time and skills to keep the store running smoothly.

“There are still poor people that need help. You still need people to help others. People, they still need it,” volunteer Julius Bergman, who has been with the store since 1973, told the Sun.

Another volunteer, Joan Klassen, who joined in 2002, shared her perspective on the evolution of the store’s impact, noting, “The work that we do is for the Lord. Because the money that we send to MCC goes to help MCC with projects around the world. So, whatever we do is for the Lord.”

Newcomer Deanna Hnatiuk’s brief two-month experience at the thrift store as a volunteer has already left a positive impression.

“I feel like everyone is responsible and they always want to put out new stuff so people can find the things that they need,” she said.

Burrows added that the positive effects of volunteering on individuals seeking to develop job skills or improve their English fluency is immeasurable.

“Students come here and learn jobs, get job skills,” she said. “There was one girl who was here as a student and later got a job at the Real Canadian Superstore as a manager. She got her footing here, and she started here and was able to progress.”

The store’s impact is not limited to the local community. The funds generated by the thrift store are channelled to MCC’s global projects, expanding the reach of their charitable endeavours. Donations and sales at the store have allowed MCC to continue its mission of supporting vulnerable populations and communities worldwide.

“In 1973, the shop earned $9,216.26 and gave $7,106.91 to MCC. Of course, their expenses were little in the first year, right? They didn’t have many expenses. In 2015, it earned $322,534 and seven cents, and they gave $165,000 to MCC,” she told the Sun.

Like every other organization, MCC Thrift Shop is also faced with some challenges. Burrows mentioned issues such as “managing an influx of donations and ensuring safety in the face of vandalism and theft.”

Brandon’s thrift store started as a Self-Help Centre at 304 10th St. on Oct. 19, 1973, under the auspices of the MCC. Support comes from 10 Mennonite churches in southwest Manitoba in Killarney, Justice, Wawanesa, Boissevain, Souris, Oak Lake, Austin and Brandon.

The Brandon store is currently located at 414 Pacific Ave.

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