“To positively affect the area where people are vulnerable, where the needs are the greatest” that’s the mission of MCC whether it’s in a local community or whether it’s global, says Steinbach MCC Thrift Store Manager, Dave Thiessen. For his store, and to their staff, they felt that Agape House was one of those places.
“I mean we've got ladies that are struggling, they're vulnerable, the need is there. So, when we connected with Agape House, we asked them, what is the best way we can help you?”
Thiessen acknowledges that there are other organizations in Steinbach like Soup’s On, Community Outreach, Helping Hands Food Bank and Youth for Christ that could also use help.
“But when we chatted with them, they said they prefer funds. That's the way that works best for their organization, and how they how they use it, how they allocate it, and it gives them the flexibility to do with however they want. So, we do that a couple of times a year.”
Thiessen continues, “However with Agape House, when we talked to them, Tracy was saying that she thought that rather than giving them a chunk of money that might potentially go towards capital projects, which they're talking would help them to maybe expand, but for now, they are very happy that we're meeting a need directly.”
So, for the past number of years, the Steinbach MCC Thrift Store has been giving gift certificates to Agape House to give to women who use their shelter.
Thiessen says it wasn't always that way. When MCC Thrift first started helping out Agape House, the women would come to the store with a referral letter from Agape House. The women would shop and then at the till, they would hand the letter to the teller revealing the women’s need. Thiessen says, at the time that’s also how they also worked together with churches and other organizations.
“But, when I started here a couple of years ago, I thought, you know, I want those ladies specifically, to have a more dignified experience. They don't have to come with their letter. They don't have to ask for the manager. None of that. So, we talked to Agape House about it and now I just send them (Agape House) a gift certificate template to use. They just fill that out for what the need is, usually around $100, and those ladies just come and get whatever they need. And they don't have to identify themselves, who they are, where they're coming from. They don't have to sign their name to stuff. Although we still keep track, so we know where the gift certificates are from. That way they can just come, and shop and they've got full dignity.”
Thiessen notes that in 2022 when COVID restrictions came off, and some of these vulnerable ladies maybe felt a little bit more freedom to make a move to get out of a situation, the need was much higher.
“We had at that time, probably between 50 and 60 ladies come through our door in 2022 and they probably came for about $100 shopping trip, filling up their shopping cart with whatever they needed. We just ring it through the till like a regular sale. We just let Agape House vet their own clients. They know who their ladies are and what their needs are. Do they have a big family? Do they have little kids? Are they, are they single? Whatever that need is.”
It was recently noted that Agape House saw an increase in need for shelter and support in 2023.
Thiessen says, they trust that Agape House will hand out the certificates as there is need. “It's a partnership. We're happy to partner with them that way.”
He notes, he’s often been asked what their store does with all their profits? Is it all given away globally? What about the needs in your own backyard?
“We're happy that we are able to help other charities. We don't mind sharing and telling that story about how we're involved in the community, but the idea is that we're not tooting our own horn. We want to do what's in balance. We don't want to be like, we're proud or bragging, but that we're still also just being informative.”
Thiessen says they really want to just support people who are in need, if they are accepting of that help.
“We know that there's lots of people in the community that need help that don't reach out. We may even have friends or neighbors that we know that have a need and they may never go to a food bank or to the soup kitchen or ask the church for help or whatever, but I mean, that's where, if we do have a bit of an attitude of "love your neighbor" we can be helpful. But, it’s also about knowing who our neighbors are. If we have our antennas out, and we try and pay attention to where there is maybe a need and offer to meet that need, or be creative about how we do that, I think that's a good thing too.”
To shop or make a donation to Steinbach MCC Thrift Shop, visit 409 Main Street, back entrance during store hours. Monday to Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm.
To support the work of Agape House, you are invited to attend "The Purple Gala" on Friday, March 8, 2024.
Tue, May 14, 12:00 PM
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