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MCC Thrift Part 2 of 3 – Pledge Thrift First - Connie Heppner Mueller

Not long ago, shopping second hand carried the stigma that you weren’t well-off enough to buy new. But that image is fast-changing. 

In a recent survey, thrift shoppers reported that their money-saving motivations were less of a concern than their concern for a changing climate. Shoppers are voting with their dollars for a healthier planet, and it’s not just small potatoes anymore. In 2018 the 2nd hand economy weighed in at $27.3 billion in Canada.*

Our local MCC Thrift store is one of the finest and largest around. To learn more about the great work the Altona MCC is doing in our community, I sat down with Dave Rempel, store manager and here’s what I learned.

 What sells well? 

  • Clothing and shoes (women’s clothing is the top seller)
  • Major and small appliances
  • Housewares – pots, pans, silverware, dishes
  • Furniture and collectibles
  • Christmas trees, lights and decorations

What is not sellable?

  • Broken or food stained containers or cutting boards
  • Chipped glassware
  • Incomplete plastic toy sets
  • Anything moldy or water stained
  • No cribs, no car seats, no helmets

What happens to items that don’t sell?

If an item hasn’t sold in a month, MCC collects it for another charity, which amounts to about 25 large garbage bags every other week. Some clothing that doesn’t sell gets made into rags which are sold to local repair shops. 

So what about that short piece of garden hose in the shed? Does MCC want stuff like that?

The short answer is that if it’s still useable, MCC wants it. If you just can’t decide, bring it by and ask the volunteer by the drop off door. 




How can we ease the burden on MCC’s volunteers?

It really helps when loads are clean and organized, like all the clothing together, all the jars together and so on. It is also extremely helpful if a note is added to items that are in need of repair so that the repairer can get a jump start on what is needed for a fix.

Consider volunteering yourself. It’s fun and it’s for a great cause. You can specify what kind of work you’re interested in. Options include:

  • cashiering
  • sorting, pricing and putting items out in the store
  • repairing donated goods

If volunteering interests you, contact Dave Rempel, store manager, in person at the store or at altonamcc@gmail.com.

In our disposable world, our consumer habits are harming the planet. From fashion to furniture, our wasteful ways are piling up in landfills and leaving behind a huge carbon footprint. Buying 2nd hand helps alleviate these problems. So the next time you need something, stop at our local MCC thrift shop first, BEFORE shopping elsewhere. As their slogan says, “every purchase is a gift to the world.”

https://www.kijiji.ca/kijijicentral/app/uploads/2019/10/Kijiji-Index-Report-2019_EN_final_pages-2_compressed.pdf


ACAN seeks to educate and inspire sustainable practices in our community.

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