The upcoming MyCityCare Street Store will be held on Saturday at Victory Lutheran Church, the same location as their new permanent no-cost store.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
One year after its inception in February 2021, MyCityCare Medicine Hat, a local community support initiative providing Hatters in need with essential items like food and clothing at no cost, is excited to host the grand opening of its permanent location at Victory Lutheran Church on Saturday.
“Originally (MyCityCare) started in Lethbridge (five years ago),” Shyla Maneschyn with MyCityCare told the News. “The whole focus was just helping people, but helping not by saying, ‘This is your need, here’s your need,’ – (instead) we want to bring dignity back with a store.”
Organizers with MyCityCare believe the way those in need receive goods is an important factor in their well-being, therefore, the new permanent location is set up like a boutique store, where customers can browse the inventory and even receive assistance from staff, if needed.
“We want to slow down and give people dignity, but still help them,” said Shyla. “(In the store setting) people can feel like they can pick what they want.”
Currently the store, accessed through a side entrance of Victory Lutheran Church, is available by appointment only, but Shyla hopes it will one day have full operating hours.
“We both would like to see it running full time, open for people to book appointments, that we have got volunteers to the nines to cover (shifts) and … to have more than enough donations to cover any and every area of need,” Shyla said.
Not only can people visit the new location, MyCityCare also offers outreach events like Street Store, a pop-up outdoor market.
“It’s the same idea as the Street Store, just indoors,” said Shyla.
Medicine Hat’s first Street Store of 2022 is being held Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside Victory Lutheran Church. Items available at the event include adult, teen and children’s clothing, as well as two-day food hampers. Lunch will also be provided at no cost by a MyCityCare community partner.
“It kind of shocked us during COVID, not only the number of people in need, but the number of people who wanted to help and volunteer,” said Shyla, describing the process behind MyCityCare’s initiatives.
Dave Maneschyn, Shyla’s husband who also works with MyCityCare, explained all items available in the permanent location and at the Street Store are provided by the individuals and community partners.
“We clothed and fed over 1,100 people in 2021,” Dave said. “And everything is donated, whether it be from churches, or people.”
Dave and Shyla thank the community for continued support and encourage anyone interested in getting involved in MyCityCare – through accessing services, volunteering time or donating clothing, food or small household items.
Donations can be dropped off at Bridge Church on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or at Victory Lutheran Church Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information or to book an appointment, visit MyCityCare on its Facebook page.
