Both the Steinbach MCC Thrift Shop and the Steinbach Ten Thousand Villages Store are closed as of today and will remain closed for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health and safety of our shoppers, volunteers, and staff are obviously of primary concern.”

Jason Hiebert is the Executive Director of the Steinbach MCC Community Assistance Centre Incorporated which encompasses both businesses. He says many of the staff and volunteers serving in both buildings are seniors and so are more susceptible to the coronavirus. The closure is meant to mitigate that risk and also to comply with social distancing recommendations from the province.

“We don’t want to be a part of the problem,” stresses Hiebert, “we want to be ahead of that curve.”

Hiebert encourages anyone hoping to donate to hold onto their items until the thrift store reopens when the threat of the illness begins to subside. However, he says, some staff will continue to monitor the drop-off spot to mitigate the chance of theft or fire hazard.