MCC thrift stores in Manitoba will be back in business soon as the province has begun to lift some restrictions on retail shopping.

MCC Manitoba Executive Director Darryl Loewen says all stores are developing plans on how to reopen their stores for business while adhering to provincial social distance guidelines connected to COVID-19.

Loewen says adhering to provincial guidelines on COVID-19 will be a top priority for every store to ensure safety.

"Things like limiting the number of customers, maintaining distancing inside the stores and in fitting rooms, browsing with your eyes and not your hands, setting up a cleaning and disinfecting routine at the entrance, single access to the store, all those kinds of things."

Loewen says the thrift stores are committed to reopening their doors only when they can meet and exceed all of those guideline recommendations.

Manitoba MCC thrift shops have 1,800 or more volunteers and a great many of them are seniors, a segment that is most vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus. Loewen was asked if he feels confident consumers and staff will be safe shopping in the stores.

"Yes, I think to the extent that the stores are going to look like neighbourhood grocery stores with limited entry, hand sanitizing stations, controlled flows through the stores, sneeze and cough barriers at points of sale, etc. ... I think this can be done well and safely."

Most thrift stores have been closed since mid-March and were not taking any donations during that time. However, that didn't mean the stores were completely inactive. According to Loewen, several stores have been actively supporting a variety of COVID-19 responses in their communities over the past six weeks.

"The Winnipeg shops, for example...have been providing some goods to an organization called Resources Assistance For Youth to place some folks without homes into vacant assisted housing situations for isolation. The Portage shop has been collaborating with community organizations to establish an emergency soup kitchen for folks who may find their food source and home economy interrupted by COVID. And our resource volunteers have been making non-medical masks to provide to all the newcomer families who were sponsored through MCC into Manitoba over the last few years."

Loewen says it's encouraging to see how volunteerism has continued to flourish despite the pandemic, and to see MCC volunteers providing help in their respective communities.

Here in the Pembina Valley region these are the thrift store opening details we are aware of:

Altona:

Starting Thursday May 7th taking donations ONLY from 9am-5pm strictly (please NO donations after these hours). The Store will be open Tuesday, May 12th to the Public.

Winkler:

Accepting donations 8am - 5pm on weekdays, and from 8am - 4pm on Saturdays. Please no evening (after 5 pm), and Sunday drop-offs.The store reopened May 4th with regular business hours.