MCC hands out $40,500 to local community groups

MCC Thrift Store has handed out $40,500 to nine community groups in Steinbach who it feels provide vital services to the community.

“Often the question is what do we do here locally for our own people? Is all this money going out of the country? Our aim is to do what we can here locally in the same kinds of ways that we do in other countries around the world,” said MCC Thrift Store general manager Dave Thiessen.

Sales from the thrift store are used to help organizations in 45 countries around the world and in Steinbach. This year, Thiessen said donations were up from the previous year.

One of the organizations being helped by MCC is enVision Community Living, an organization that helps individuals with intellectual disabilities live normal productive lives.

“Currently we’re raising $100,000 for a new accessible vehicle,” said Louise Carriere, communications associate and fundraising coordinator for enVision Foundation. “Currently we have several vehicles that are older than 10 years old and I think there’s one that needs repairs, which is not practical because the repairs are astronomical. It’s not practical to do that and (we’re) seeking to decommission that vehicle and choose to buy a new one to replace it.”

enVision held its Comedy and Canapes fundraising campaign on Nov. 8 where it raised just under $20,000 of its $100,000 goal. The $4,500 it got from MCC will go towards the purchase of the new vehicle. Carriere said it will cost about $70,000 to purchase the van and another $30,000 to customize it.

“These accessible vehicles are very important because it gives them the freedom, it gives them independence, it makes them connected to their families, to the community,” said Carriere.

enVision currently serves 210 people in the community.

Another first-time grant recipient is Headway, a program that helps youth who are involved with the justice system. That program was established in Steinbach in 2016.

“We’re super excited about (getting this grant),” said Headway and Re-START program coordinator Heidi Harder Falk. “Very thankful as well. MCC is a great organization. They’re so community minded. It’s definitely a pleasure to partner with them on this.”

In perhaps what might seem like a surprising move to some, MCC Thrift Store also gave grant money to Adult and Teen Challenge which has its own thrift store.

“Some people might think, ‘What in the world is Steinbach MCC Thrift Store doing giving money to Adult and Teen Challenge Thrift Store? Well, we want to support that addiction program,” said Thiessen.

Adult and Teen Challenge will use the money to support its men’s campus and its outpatient services.

“I think it’s amazing. It really sends a clear message that we’re in it together and we help each other out not just financially…,” said Derek Neufeld, who works in development with Adult and Teen Challenge. “The money goes to help specially individuals get the recovery journey started that they so desperately need for their life controlling issues.”

Other organizations that got funding were Safe Families, Southeast Helping Hands, Special Olympics, Youth for Christ, Soup’s On, and Steinbach Community Outreach.