By Abby Taylor
October 21, 2025
At Village Green MCC Thrift in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, generosity isn’t just a value of staff and volunteers, it’s the way they show up in their community. Through two powerful partnerships, the shop quietly transforms lives by meeting people where they are, offering dignity and building trust through compassionate acts.
A partnership with St. Michael’s school: Clothing confidence and community care
Just down the street from Village Green is St. Michael Community School which serves students from low-income households. The school feeds children three times a day and provides a safe, nurturing environment. Staff also notice when deeper needs arise.
“We run two programs,” said Michelle Martens, Village Green’s shop manager. “One is in conjunction with St. Mike’s, our neighbourhood community school. They have a number of high-need individuals. Many experience poverty. The school is feeding kids three times a day.”
Village Green partners with the school to support students who may be struggling with clothing insecurity. Staff at St. Michael’s identify kids who have been wearing the same outfit for several days, knowing this can affect a child’s mental health. Every few weeks, a staff member brings a student to the shop to “go shopping.” The child chooses clothing they like, often changing into their new outfit right away. Meanwhile, the school launders their old clothes so they can return home with multiple clean options.
“There was a young girl, a Grade 8 student. The staff had noticed she was really disengaged and didn’t want to be in class. The school has a high Indigenous population, so they have a Kookum, an Indigenous grandmother. Kookum was chatting with this child and decided she should come over here to the thrift shop. They picked out a couple of changes of clothes and went back to school. When they got back, they couldn’t find her. Then suddenly, she came out of the bathroom in her new clothes. The principal was there, and he said it was like a different kid walked out of the bathroom than the one who walked in. She had a new confidence in herself.,” Michelle shared.
The relationship with St. Michael’s began in September 2024, when Village Green had an abundance of school supplies. Becca Bushman, a thrift staff member, reached out to the school and made a connection. From there, the partnership grew to include support for the school’s nutrition program, clothing needs and even furniture.
“They came over because they were looking for a couch for Kookum’s room,” Michelle said. “Something cozy for the kids to sit and have a conversation with grandmother on. We were happy to provide them with that.”
Village Green has also contributed funds to the school’s nutrition program which feeds about 80 of their 120 students three times a day. The school hopes to expand the program to include an afternoon snack for kindergarten to Grade 4 students. “The hope is that there can be funding or a way for that to work in the future in a sustainable way,” Michelle said.
A second partnership: Serving the unhoused with compassion
Village Green also runs a year-round program supporting unhoused individuals in Saskatoon. Once per season, anyone in need can receive $50 worth of free clothing. All they need to do is speak to a staff member or volunteer and they’re invited to shop.
The shop also provides care kits and blankets when available. If someone returns needing a change of clothes due to wear, damage or lack of storage, they’re welcomed back with compassion.
“We recognize that they don’t have a place to store their clothes or wash them,” Michelle said. “So sometimes things get dirty, stained or ripped. When they come in and we recognize them, we’ll tell them to go ahead and get a change of clothes.”
The program runs all year long, with seasonal flexibility. “They’re going to need different clothing in January than they do in July,” Michelle said.
Staff are trained to offer essentials like socks and underwear, even if someone has reached their $50 limit. “In the winter, we also have more leniency with jackets because our climate can be intense,” Michelle said.
Threads of hope
Both partnerships reflect the heart of MCC Thrift and its mission. Whether it’s a child finding confidence in a new outfit or an unhoused individual receiving warmth and dignity, Village Green is weaving hope into the fabric of its community.
These programs aren’t flashy. They’re quiet, consistent and deeply relational — built on trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to doing good.