2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - Saskatchewan
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Thank you from MCC Saskatchewan's executive director
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” – Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
I am deeply thankful for the profound generosity and courageous peace that you – donors, volunteers, supporters, and churches – have offered in Saskatchewan and around the world through MCC’s activity this year.
2024 marks the 60th anniversary of MCC Saskatchewan. We celebrate and are grateful for six decades of engagement with churches, families and individuals who are seeking to shape their communities and the world with God’s love and compassion for all.
Thrift Shops, Grow Hope fields, plastic buckets of hygiene supplies, community learning opportunities – all of these tangible spaces also become intangible offerings of Christ’s peace into our lives and the lives of so many caught up in the chaos of natural disasters and political upheaval.
I invite you to explore and be encouraged by this year’s collection of stories of community care, relational transformation, generosity, and hope. From the Meheba Refugee Settlement Camp in Zambia to the Meadowgreen neighbourhood of Saskatoon, thank you for your love in our broken and still beautiful world.
Eileen Klassen Hamm
Executive Director, MCC Saskatchewan
Highlights from MCC Saskatchewan
Fundraising and Church Engagement
Lakeview Free Methodist Church in Saskatoon has emerged as one of our valued new partners, thanks in part to the active involvement of at least five MCC staff members in their congregation. The church supports MCC’s Material Resources campaigns and views relief kit bucket-filling events as a valuable intergenerational activity.
We are excited to continue this partnership, especially as Lakeview begins forming a refugee sponsorship group.
Photo caption: Members of Lakeview church packing relief kits to send to communities in need across the world. (MCC photo/ Randy Klassen).
1,342
generous donors to MCC
$2.78M
was received through donations
110
local churches engaged with the work of MCC
$92K
was donated for MCC’s response to the situation in Gaza
Development highlights
Celebrating the sixth season, we look back with awe at the journey of this project since 2018. Starting with two farmers planting 160 acres, this partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank now unites Mennonite, Catholic, Baptist, Anglican, and Presbyterian traditions, growing over 400 acres to fight global hunger.
This year, your support surpassed our goals. 463 acres were sponsored, and together with the sale
of the crop, nearly $319,000 was raised. Together with government-matched funds, up to $5 million has been generated to provide emergency and other food assistance over six years. Your dedication to this project is the heartbeat of Grow Hope!
This year marked a significant change from the “Relief Sale and Auction” to the Relief Sale “Festival,” signaling a shift from the live auction to a focus on gathering, celebration, and fundraising. New activities included an art show, multiple artisan booths, sales of re-purposed items by Ten Thousand Villages, international cuisine, children’s activities, and live music.
We saw an increase of about 150 plates served and an estimated 1,000 attendees. The traditional quilt sale became its own annual online Christmas event. Overall, $92,000 was raised, with nearly $14,000 raised through Thrift shop events across the province.
For over 20 years, Harold and Miriam Tieszen have dedicated their time and skills to making comforters for MCC. Recently, the couple spotted one of their distinctive comforters in a photo from a partner organization in Ukraine. Recognizable by their signature pattern and unique fleece backing, the Tieszens were deeply moved to see a young person wrapped
in their work. Harold’s precision in cutting squares and Miriam’s expertise in sewing them together make them a remarkable team. Together, this Saskatchewan couple has crafted and sent hundreds of beautiful comforters worldwide through MCC.
Photo: Harold and Miriam Tieszen with one of their beautiful comforters. Below: recipients of Harold and Miriam’s comforter in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine. (Photo courtesy of Association of Mennonite Brethren Churches of Ukraine).
Youth engagement: SOAR Saskatchewan
This year, 130 participants, including 100 youth and young adults, joined two enriching learning days with SOAR Saskatchewan. The first day featured an introduction to MCC, a migration and resettlement workshop, a truth and reconciliation session, and the KAIROS Blanket Exercise led by knowledge keeper Starla Bruneau and Elder Maryann Napope.
The second day offered an immersive urban plunge, including the Race for Understanding and visits to various community organizations.
Photo: Youth and young adults participating in the KAIROS Blanket Exercise.
97
youth were reached through youth programing, a significant increase from 38 last year
812
young adults participated in various educational workshops around peace and justice topics
250
people formed sponsorship teams to help refugee families settle in Saskatchewan
382
people participated in KAIROS Blanket Exercises
Program highlights
In September 2023, we launched Transformation Tuesdays, a monthly learning series for exploring peace and justice. Each month, community members of all ages learned from individuals with lived experiences, enriching the sessions with real- world perspectives. The gatherings fostered community and empowered the 73 participants to build relationships of peace, truly embodying the spirit of transformation.
“Always be open to all the effects of trauma, often hidden, that people are carrying.” TRANSFORMATION TUESDAYS WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT
This year, the nationally coordinated Climate Action for Peace campaign focused on creation care, took root in Saskatchewan through 30 sessions that engaged 406 participants, including 83 youth and young adults. This featured book clubs, screenings, and discussions across various communities. These activities sparked meaningful dialogue and inspired participants to take actionable steps toward creation care.
This year, the program grew from 38 to 97 participants, driven by stronger relationships with our partner, Servant Partners. Weekly Kid’s Club offered activities like chess, ping pong, cooking, and arts and crafts, while field trips included the pool and bowling.
Our weekly gym and soccer nights, alongside arts and crafts, fostered a greater sense of community. The Raise the Peace Camp also engaged 15 youth, aged 8-14 in recreational activities. Soccer played a crucial role in building community, fostering teamwork, leadership and conflict resolution skills leadership.
“Peace by Peace: International and Local Peacebuilding,” attracted nearly 100 attendees, including over 30 young adults. The conference featured workshops on polarization and sessions on MCC’s peacebuilding efforts.
We explored peacebuilding history and theology and learned about conflicts in Saskatchewan, Ukraine, and the Middle East. Several local community partners also contributed to the meaningful discussions. You can find video recordings of all the sessions on our YouTube channel!
Photo: Peace Conference attendees enjoyed a traditional Eritrean lunch catered by Mihret Adhanom’s family. Mihret and her family are former refugees from Eritrea who resettled in Saskatoon with the help of a the our Migration and Resettlement program.
This year, our local programs benefited from the invaluable support of various external funders. Grants from the Community Initiatives Fund, Saskatoon Community Foundation, City of Saskatoon & Saskatchewan Lotteries, and Canada Summer Jobs enabled us to enhance community development efforts.
The Indigenous Neighbours program benefited from the SaskCulture Multicultural Initiatives Fund, while Lakeview Church played a key role in supporting Migration and Resettlement initiatives. These contributions have been vital in expanding our impact and reaching more people.
Material Resources
During a learning tour, Karla Koehn, MCC Saskatchewan Donor Engagement Coordinator, visited a refugee settlement in Zambia where MCC distributes material resource kits. Among those she met was Abayisenga Eduard, who fled Rwanda and has been unable to return.
When Eduard received a blanket and hygiene kit from MCC, he shared how his old blanket didn’t allow him to sleep well. Eduard generously shared his new blanket with his housemate, who was in the hospital during the distribution of supplies.
980
Relief kits
759
School kits
1,9K
Hygiene kits
2K
Comforters
MCC Thrift
Photo: The incredible staff and volunteers at Village Green stepped up as models, showcasing the stunning dresses and suits from the formal wear department. (MCC photo/ Gabriela Silva Altarugio).
$700K
in revenue
62K
volunteer hours
545
active volunteers
$31K
donated to Saskatchewan charities
Thrift highlights
On June 9th, 2023, the Warman Thrift Store hosted a vibrant satellite Relief Sale Festival, featuring live music that added to the lively atmosphere. Staff, volunteers, and shoppers enjoyed a BBQ lunch, bake sale, and a 50% off in-store sale.
A heartfelt thanks to the Warman community for their unwavering support.
Will has been a dedicated volunteer at the Lanigan shop for about six years. His favorite department to work in is the testing corner, while he enjoys shopping in the hardware section.
What keeps Will coming back to volunteer? He finds great satisfaction in repairing things and making them useful again.
In September 2023, MCC Clothes Basket joined Rosthern’s Harvest Festival Parade! The staff and volunteers waved, handed out candy and coupons, and enjoyed an exciting day with amazing sales. Thanks for supporting MCC by shopping thrifty, donating, and volunteering!
Financial highlights
MCC Saskatchewan is funded through the generosity of dedicated donors, grantors and thrift shops. This year, $2.78 million in donations accounted for 60% of total income, significantly bolstering both local and international initiatives. Thrift shop efforts, powered by staff, volunteers, and shoppers, raised over $700,000 and the Relief Sale Festival raised over $90,000, playing a vital role in sustaining our work.
Altogether, $4.66 million was raised. These funds facilitated an investment of $2.03 million in international programs and $928,518 in local initiatives focused on justice, peacebuilding, and disaster relief. The ongoing support from our community partners ensures we can continue our mission of relief, development, and peacebuilding across Saskatchewan and around the world.
Expenses
$4,291,564 | $2,031,063 | $319,838 Thrift |
$642,182 | $369,962 | $928,518 |
Revenue
$4,657,367 | $734,552 | $250,788 |
$91,104 | $584,250 Grants | $220,636 |
Explore more annual reports
2023/2024 Annual Report for MCC in the U.S.
2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - Eastern Canada
2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - Ontario
2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - Saskatchewan
2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - British Columbia
2023/2024 Annual Impact Report - Canada and International
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