Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Portage MCC Community Assistance Centre Inc. (MCC)

Portage MCC Community Assistance Centre Inc., operating as Portage MCC Thrift Shop, is a locally governed non-profit charity based in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Through its three thrift locations and quilting operation, the organization generates revenue to support the wider work of Mennonite Central Committee (via MCC Manitoba) and to address needs in the local community. Beyond selling donated goods, Portage MCC channels a portion of its resources into structured financial and in-kind assistance programs.

A key funding mechanism is its annual cycle of Fundraising Days. Each year, the Board of Directors reviews applications from local, registered Canadian charities that wish to host a fundraising day at Portage MCC. Selected organizations receive exposure in the shop to promote their mission and a monetary donation calculated as a portion of sales for that day. The process is competitive, with limited dates available and a clear deadline for applications, which creates a recurring, program-like opportunity for local charities to obtain flexible operating or project funds.

In addition to monetary donations, Portage MCC provides in-kind assistance through its Community Aid offerings. Relief Kits are assembled for community members in need and can be donated by customers or accessed at no cost via a network of partner agencies such as mental health services, child and family services, pregnancy support centres, and The Salvation Army. The shop also issues Community Aid Coupons for clothing, footwear, family essentials, housewares and furniture, which function as vouchers redeemable in the thrift stores for essential items.

These tools allow social service agencies in the region to quickly connect vulnerable clients with clothing, household goods and other necessities without those individuals needing direct cash. In practice, this makes Portage MCC an important local resource for emergency aid and poverty alleviation, complementing the work of frontline agencies.

Founded in 1983, Portage MCC’s stated purposes include generating resources for MCC and the local community, providing opportunities for volunteer service in the name of Christ, and ensuring affordable goods are available to those in need. The organization is overseen by a board of directors that sets policies such as eligibility and selection criteria for fundraising days, and it publishes annual reports and CRA charity information to support transparency.

Portage MCC is part of a wider network of MCC thrift shops across Manitoba, each independently operated but aligned with the broader mission of MCC to respond to basic human needs and promote peace and justice worldwide. Locally, the charity collaborates with multiple social agencies that distribute its relief kits and aid coupons, reinforcing its role as both a funding partner for community organizations and a practical channel of support for low-income residents.