Business has been booming at the Morden Community Thrift Store over the past few months. And thanks to that success, the store was able to give away an impressive $268-thousand on Monday for its 2024 spring giving.
    
President of the Morden and Community Thrift Store, Kent Noel, says sales are continually rebounding after the COVID slowdown.

"We've had tremendous sales in the last few months and it's all because of our community being able to donate to us and our volunteers doing the hard work, getting it ready, cleaning it up, and getting it out on the floor."

Noel says it's heartwarming, to see all the smiling faces when they can give back. "There's a lot of hard work that goes into doing what we do, and this is the reward of it. It's a blessing to do this for the community."

The Thrift Store rarely denies a request for funding. Noel said he can only recall that happening when applications have come in from outside their jurisdiction.

Noel said it's a big process going through the applications.

"We have a budget that we have to work with. I've said in the past, that our hospital, our fire department, and our police department they're high priorities on our list. Those are the first ones we look at, and we have to break it down little by little. But, we try to give everybody something, if we can."  

 

Awarded requests for the Thrift Store's 2024 spring giving:

Boundary Trails Health Centre - $45 000 - for medical equipment

STARS Air Ambulance - $35 000 - for financial assistance

Menzies Medical Centre - $30 000 - for various needed items

Morden Fire & Rescue - $25 000 - for the purchase of breathing apparatuses

Western School Division (Discovery Trails School - École Discovery Trails) - $ 20,000 - The second installment of a five-year commitment totaling $ 100,000 for the track and soccer field.

Morden Police Service - $15 000 - for a hydraulic breach

South Central Cancer Resource - $10 000 - for financial assistance

Many Hands - $ 8,000 - for food vouchers

 

The following nine organizations each received $ 5,000.

Tabor Home - for their mural project and walking path

Youth for Christ - Program funding assistance

Pembina Counseling Service - counseling assistance

500 Stephen Street, Morden School Aged Programming, and Morden Citizens on Patrol - for financial assistance

Morden Handi-Van - Assist with new van purchase

École Morden Middle School - wheelchair access play structure

Katie Cares - New beds


The Darlingford Fire Department - $ 4,000 - For fire and rescue suppression equipment

 

The following each received $3,000

Pembina Valley Humane Society - New washer and dryer

Morden Family Resource Centre - Programming support

Regional Connections - For newcomer drop-in support


Receiving $2,500 each


Pembina Valley Pregnancy Care Centre - For supplies


Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley - For mentorship programs

Douglas Kuhl School of Music - For string ensemble

Morden Christian Programming - For sound equipment rental the Morden Corn and Apple 

Receiving $2,000


Central Manitoba Choral Association - For travel assistance


Pembina Climate Action Network - For financial assistance

Before Monday, $8,000 was given out to the Morden Collegiate Institute for upcoming scholarships.