Mennonite Central Committee British Columbia (MCC BC) has purchased 8.5 acres on Gladys Avenue that will house MCC Thrift Shops, a home office, local programs, the Material Resource Centre, Ten Thousand Villages, a café and more.
“We are not just investing in a physical structure,” said Wayne Bremner, executive director of MCC BC. “We are building on a legacy of compassion, increasing our ability to support MCC’s relief, development and peace work around the world.”
The MCC Plaza Thrift Shop in Clearbook will remain in its current location while both the MCC Furniture and More and MCC Abby East Thrift shops will move to the new building, along with the offices and Material Resource Centre on Marshall Road.
By raising funds to purchase land and consolidating these two thrift shops, MCC BC could save more than $350,000 a year in lease costs. Consolidation will also increase efficiency and reduce staffing costs. More retail space combined with a highly visible and accessible location with ample parking will increase thrift sales, supporting the work of MCC around the world.
Both Tina Stewart, executive director of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA), and president Paul MacLeod have expressed their appreciation for the planning that has gone into the site and the new building. They believe the new MCC building will be a welcome addition to downtown Abbotsford.
“We anticipate that its presence will be a great draw for patrons from all around the Lower Mainland to visit our downtown and enjoy all of our boutiques, shops, cafes and restaurants.”
More than $6 million in donations and pledges have already been raised towards the $10 million needed before the anticipated ground-breaking in June, 2013.
“I’d much rather see our dollars go towards our own property and building, something that’s ours,” said Martha Brandt who volunteers at the MCC Abby East Thrift Shop. “Hopefully, down the road the next generation will look back on our decision and say that we were forward-thinking in our actions.”
For more information and to contribute to this project, visit www.mcclegacy.com