The Herbert MCC Thrift Store is a Mennonite-run thrift shop located in the town of Herbert, Sask.
Staffed by volunteers, the store is a thriving hub of activity in the heart of town. The community outreach offered by the thrift store plays a vital role in uniting the community through its charitable efforts.
Back in 1972, the first MCC Thrift Shop was opened in Altona, Man. by Linie Friesen, Selma Loewen, Susan Giesbrecht, and Sara Stoesz. Expecting the store to last only a few months as a trial project, they were surprised to see the idea thrived. Their vision has since grown into a network of more than 85 shops across North America.
Each separate store is organized as more of a grassroots shop and has its own character and history. In Herbert, Sask., the store plays a vibrant role in the community and draws in volunteers from all over the area, including Moose Jaw.
Yvonne Penton moved to Herbert several years ago and was drawn to the store. “When I moved here, I wanted to meet people,” she said. “This is a great way to meet people because everybody comes to the thrift store. They’re aways repetitious, so you get to meet people and chat.” Penton is now the assistant manager of the shop.
“Most of the donations are done locally, and I really like the concept. So for me, I really enjoy working here. Everybody is just so friendly and happy. It’s not the same pressure as a normal job.”
The MCC in the title of the store stands for ‘Mennonite Central Committee.’ There are a few Mennonite colonies around the Herbert area. Every Friday, a nearby colony sells their vegetables in the store’s gazebo from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Each individual outlet raises money through sales and promotional events like barbecues, and then head office determines who is most in need of financial support and funds are distributed accordingly.
In the Mennonite Central Committee’s quarterly publication, the distribution of charitable aid is clearly listed, and this keeps the process transparent.
The store survives thanks to the countless hours donated by their volunteers. Last month, Penton said the store tallied 404 hours of total volunteer time, which is astonishing.
“We survive on donations from locals and those outside of the community. We are run mostly by volunteers, and have volunteers come in every day to sort the items and price everything,” Penton said.
On the west side of the building, there are three large donation bays that are always open. Penton described the scene each morning by saying the bins always contain newly donated items, and after a long weekend they overflow.
Several volunteers are long-serving contributors to the store. “The lady who picks up the material that’s good for rags comes in, picks them up, cuts them all and boxes them. She lives in Moose Jaw,” Penton explained.
“We have a volunteer, Jocelyn Harder, who makes purses out of the leftover material, and uses belts to make handles. Another volunteer makes bird feeders out of glass that we otherwise cannot use.
“Florence, who is in her 70s… her parents used to work here in the old building,” said Penton.
Anyone can volunteer, not just those from the Mennonite community. To volunteer, you can stop by and fill out a simple form.
Whenever an item is donated, a volunteer ensures everything is in good working order. Penton inspects jewellery that has been donated, and certain volunteers are assigned to niche areas to make sure every item sold is a worthwhile purchase.
The shop operates on more of a one-on-one basis, compared to a broader event-based outreach.
“One of the biggest things we do is gifts in kind. With families who need help, we help them but it’s anonymous and we don’t say anything,” said Penton. “People who are sick, the elderly, if someone has to do cancer treatment and go back and forth to Regina, we help them with the funds to get there, gas, and household expenses.
“We have people coming through who are drifters… if they need a pair of shoes, we’ll get them a pair of shoes, new pants, and a jacket. We don’t give money, but we help however else we can."
Penton also said the town is helping a displaced family from the ongoing war in Ukraine. “We have a Ukrainian family who moved in town over a year ago, and they came with nothing, so we helped them set up their dishes, bedding, and stuff like that,” she said.
The newest addition to the store’s outreach is a pickup service. Penton said the store has an enclosed trailer to pick up any items that someone may wish to donate, but the distance or size of the item is too limiting.
As a network of not-for-profit thrift shops, the MCC Thrift Shop network supports both local and global relief efforts, as well as development and peace projects organized by the Mennonite Central Committee.
The store is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. They are closed Sundays and Mondays.
The store is located at 614 Herbert Avenue in Herbert, Sask., and can be reached at 306-784-2281. Additional information is available on their website.
