News

The Energy of Our Young(est) Volunteers

All of the volunteers at SSVP Brant Thrift Store are young at heart, regardless of their chronological age. However this summer, additional lively young volunteers arrived to assist our usual crew.

At the pre-sorting table, Quin (Gr. 9 at Assumption College) has been assisting Grandma Rita with her tasks.

In new volunteer roles necessitated by the pandemic, Ally (Gr. 12 at North Park Collegiate) and Kylie (Gr. 12 at Assumption College) have been greeting customers, explaining our hygiene and physical distancing precautions as well as disinfecting shopping carts.

When Julian (Gr. 9 at St. John’s College) has arrived each Wednesday with his grandfather, volunteer Edwin, he has jumped into whatever task awaits, especially lots of sorting: food donations, hangers, clothing and lots of other stuff.

When Charlie (Gr. 10 at Assumption College) has come along with grandmother Elaine, he has proven to be a “doer”, both receiving donations and pre-sorting them under the direction of volunteer Theresa.

Volunteer Wies’ granddaughter Sophie (from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School in Orillia) shared her years of experience with SSVP Brant as she returned for a working visit at the sorting table.

With much appreciation for this sharing of their energy and enthusiasm we wish our young volunteers well as they return to whichever version of school they have chosen. And we are excited to know that some of them will be returning to help periodically in the next months as their schedules permit.

Volunteer experience (40 hours total) is currently required as part of the graduation requirements for high school students in Ontario. Also, the commitment, work ethic and community spirit demonstrated by such activity is recognized positively when students apply for post-secondary scholarships or bursaries.

Any high school student wishing to volunteer during the school year is very welcome to join our team at SSVP Brant Thrift Store. To explore this possibility contact us at ssvpbrant@gmail.com.

Thrift Store Update August 25, 2020

Our current hours of opening for shopping continue to be Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 am to 2:30 pm.

We continue to accept donations on Wednesdays between 9 am and 12 noon.

In order to achieve safe physical distancing in our Store for our customers and our volunteers, we continue to limit the number of customers in the retail space.

Thanks to all for your patience, understanding and cooperation as our 100% volunteer staff continues to serve the community.Part of this process involves restricting entrance to one person per family group and to people over the age of 15.

The Priest with the Vincentian Heart

As a student at Cathedral High School in the late 1980s, Peter Ciallella was a Vincentian.  In 2017, as Father Peter, he was sent to serve at Blessed Sacrament parish in Burford (and St. Anthony Daniel, Scotland).

Two activities that he undertook immediately have come together in this time of pandemic. Father Peter’s Vincentian heart lead him to embrace his role as Spiritual Advisor to Blessed Sacrament conference.  His experience of service in Latin America lead him to begin a ministry to the migrant workers who come each year to work in this agricultural area.   “… on one Sunday a month from about April to October, Blessed Sacrament offers the workers English lessons and access to WiFi sometimes not available at the farms. Fluent in Spanish, Ciallella delivers a service in the workers’ native language, followed by a meal prepared by church volunteers. As many as 100 workers show up.” (Brantford Expositor June 10, 2020)

Faced with a Covid-19 outbreak at a large farm operation in a neighbouring county, Father Peter publicly addressed community reaction to workers being quarantined in Brant hotels: “I know their intention was not to assign blame on the migrant farm workers, but rather to point out the bureaucratic flaws in poor planning and communication,’ Ciallella said in a letter to The Expositor.  “Unfortunately, this can escalate the tension and fears and lead to a certain amount of backlash and xenophobia, which has been evident.” (Brantford Expositor June 10, 2020)

Instead Father was approached by President Mary Risi and past-President Doreen Fader of Blessed Sacrament conference seeking a positive response to the situation.  With the support of parishioners and conference members from across the Brant deanery, more than 200 gift bags were provided to workers as they finished their quarantine.

Sadly, Mexican worker, Juan Lopez Chaparro, succumbed to the virus in June. With the local health officer, Father Peter visited the bunkhouses of Juan’s colleagues to personally deliver the tragic news. “We addressed their concerns and offered prayers for their companion,” said Ciallella. “It took us over two hours. It was quite an emotional and moving experience.” (Simcoe Reformer, June 21, 2020)

During a memorial Mass, Father shared words from Juan’s wife.  “Remember my husband, the man that he was — a good man, a kind-hearted man, a man of peace.” (Catholic Register July 4, 2020) Because many coworkers were unable to attend due to pandemic restrictions, Facebook livestream was arranged with an eventual upload to YouTube.

Father Peter also established a GoFundMe campaign for Juan’s family. He continues his advocacy for the workers: “Workers have been afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs or being sent back to Mexico,” said Ciallella. “This could be a turning point.” (Brantford Expositor, June 25, 2020)

Then word came about a second farm operation with a small group of workers. Because of their isolation they have been unable to shop.  Through contact with local Vincentian Wies Stys, Father Peter arranged for work clothing to be provided to these men from the SSVP Brant Thrift Store. Also at the Store is a quantity of non-perishable food awaiting resumption of full SSVP food bank service to those in need locally. Store volunteers have prepared and dispatched boxes of items deemed suitable for the workers’ diet.

This priest with the Vincentian heart truly exemplifies the Vincentian value to “help in all possible ways”.

Delivery Resumes!

Thanks to our amazing, committed volunteer delivery team.  As of Saturday, August 8th we have resumed delivery of furniture items (purchased with vouchers or money). Thanks to our patient customers for understanding that the team can only deliver to the front door of your building – to keep all as safe and comfortable as possible.

Welcome Back, Shoppers!!

Finally!!! Welcome back, shoppers!!  Next week, Tuesday (July 14th) & Thursday (July 16th) & Friday (July 17th), we will open to shoppers from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

To keep all customers and volunteers safe, please note:

  • Face coverings are required for all shoppers (and volunteers).
  • One customer per family please (none under age 16).
  • Leave backpacks at home or in your vehicle if possible.
  •  Use of debit is encouraged (no minimum) but cash is accepted.

We will also accept donations next week ONLY on Wednesday, 15th between 9 a.m. and 12 noon. Please note:

  • Our volunteers will not handle your donations. Please follow their direction to place your items in the carts provided where they will be quarantined until it is safe for our volunteers to process them.
  • If items are packed in a box please close the top of the box to permit most efficient use of our storage space.