Your impact in Ontario - Winter 2025

An update on MCC projects in Ontario

A group of several youth and four adults post for the camera in a green field.

Ontario — Jan 2025

menu_book Impact report

The Youth Leading Change: Community Peacebuilding Certificate Program blends interactive learning with community engagement.
Photo/Rockway Mennonite Collegiate

Making a difference in Ontario

Hands packing hygiene kits, soup bubbling on the stove, volunteers welcoming newcomers, students laughing and learning together – this is the hustle and bustle of your generosity in action.

At MCC Ontario, the work of relief, development and peace is
only possible because of you. Through your support, you’re:

  • Empowering youth to lead with compassion and take
    action through peacebuilding programs.
  • Providing warmth and care with thousands of comforters,
    hygiene kits and relief supplies sent to families in crisis.
  • Building bridges of reconciliation through partnerships
    like Quilts for Survivors and supporting relationships with
    Indigenous neighbors.
  • Welcoming newcomers by connecting them with support
    and opportunities.

Together, we’re creating communities filled with hope, healing and belonging. Thank you for making a difference.

Material Resources

Through the Material Resources program, 946 relief kits have brought comfort to those in crisis, 1,453 comforters have wrapped families in warmth during the coldest months, 8,420 hygiene kits have helped families stay safe and healthy and 3,520 school kits have given children the tools they need to pursue their education with confidence.

 

 

A man wearing a hard hat reaches to fasten together a skid of white buckets.

Material Resources in Ontario

At the heart of all this is our incredible team of 51 volunteers, who’ve dedicated 426 hours of their time packing, sorting and bringing this work to life. Their hands-on support is the heart of this program, and we are so grateful for their unwavering commitment to and passion for helping others.

1453

comforters provided warmth and a reminder of hope and care to people when they needed it most.

8420

hygiene kits helped ensure adults and children have access to the supplies they need during times of conflict or disaster.

946

relief kits provided valuable supplies to families whose lives have been disrupted by conflict or disaster.

3520

school kits have given children the tools they need to pursue their education with confidence.

Walking with People in Poverty

At 14, Lucas began struggling with mental health challenges that made it hard for him to keep up with school, connect with others and maintain paid employment. With encouragement from a support worker, he applied for a job at The Raw Carrot, a social enterprise that provides job opportunities for people facing barriers to traditional employment.

Now, for the past five years, he’s been part of a team of eight individuals who produce delicious soup for the community—over 7,200 cups so far! But it’s so much more than just the paycheque. The Raw Carrot team is a community that shares their struggles and celebrates each other’s victories. For Lucas, it’s been a life-changing environment where his confidence has grown and he’s found a sense of purpose. For MCC Ontario staff and volunteers, seeing him thrive has been a blessing.  

man chopping vegetables

Because of your support, individuals who may face barriers to employment are able to gain new skills and independence and find community. MCC photo/Ken Ogasawara

Your generosity is making a tangible difference in the lives of people facing poverty and homelessness, and the heart of this work is reflected in the stories of people like Lucas.

Indigenous Neighbours

Thank you for bringing a tangible form of comfort through Quilts for Survivors.

One of the most meaningful ways we’ve been involved in reconciliation is through the Quilts for Survivors initiative, founded by Vanessa Genier after the discovery of unmarked graves at Residential School sites. What began as a personal gesture to comfort Survivors with handmade quilts has blossomed into a nation-wide movement! To date, more than 5,800 quilts have been delivered to Residential School Survivors across Canada, with Vanessa’s goal to reach all 40,000 Survivors. These quilts are a powerful symbol of healing, recognition and love. MCC Ontario has been proud to support Vanessa’s mission by helping her find stable space for her operation, connecting her with volunteers and contributing over 300 quilts for distribution to Survivors.

A woman in a living room hugs quilts that are prepared for shipping in white wrapping.

Over 300 quilts were given to Quilts for Survivors, an Indigenous-led organization, to provide to Residential School Survivors.
MCC photo/Scott Morton Ninomiya

From Timmins to Kitchener-Waterloo and beyond, the Indigenous Neighbours program continues to build bridges of reconciliation through art, relationship and advocacy.

Migration and Resettlement

Thank you for giving peace, hope and welcome.

At MCC’s Migration and Resettlement program, newcomers are finding hope, healing and opportunities. Through partnerships with sponsorship groups, 124 newcomers have settled into new lives, and 30 individuals have participated in social inclusion activities, helping them build connections and a sense of belonging.

A key focus has been with the Low German community, where we’ve seen incredible collaboration with 221 service providers and 28 organizations who have joined forces to strengthen settlement efforts. A standout moment in this work was the Beyond Stigma conference in Leamington, which focused on mental health and cultural safety within the Low German community. This gathering sparked important conversations about faith-based perceptions and fostering cultural safety. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and one participant shared: “I learned so much and feel motivated to continue and share.”

A display of items typically found in a Low German household, including traditional clothing.

A curated collection of clothing, books and various artifacts showcasing the daily life of a Low German-speaking household was featured at the Low German Conference for social service workers in Waterloo, Ontario. MCC photo/Lily Hiebert Rempel

Every quilt given, every newcomer welcomed, every moment of connection—it’s all thanks to your generosity. Thank you for your partnership!

Youth Leading Change

Thank you for investing in the changemakers of tomorrow.

Through an exciting partnership between Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and MCC Ontario, the Youth Leading Change: Community Peacebuilding Certificate Program gives students the tools to put their faith into action. This program blends hands-on learning with meaningful service opportunities. Students participate in five interactive sessions like the Training Active Bystanders course and the “Forced to Flee” simulation. They then complete 30 hours of community service with MCC, connecting with MCC staff, volunteers and program participants and gaining firsthand experience in service and advocacy. Our goal is to spark a lifelong commitment to peacemaking and justice within each student. 

This initiative exemplifies the power of partnership—MCC Ontario,
Rockway Mennonite Collegiate and generous people like you working together to inspire the next generation of leaders. 

Three male youth smile at the camera wearing green t-shirts.

Rockway Mennonite Collegiate students have been putting their faith into action and serving their community for decades. Their partnership with MCC Ontario’s Youth Leading Change: Community Peacebuilding Certificate Program is a continuation of that legacy.
Photo/Rockway Mennonite Collegiate

Here at MCC Ontario, it’s your kindness, compassion and partnership that are making incredible things happen. Thank you for walking alongside us in the work of relief, development and peace.