Mennonite Community Services (MCS) is the social arm of several Anabaptist churches in the Aylmer and surrounding area. The mission of MCS is to provide leadership and empowerment by promoting integration and inclusion of our diverse communities, and serving the broader community in partnership with local agencies, businesses, and churches in response to the needs of all. 
 

Coming Up at MCS...

The Auction Promotion Dinner kicks off MCS' 13th Annual Charity Auction & Fun Run. Dinner guests will be addressed by special guest speaker, Wendell Graves. Wendell and his wife Cindy are residents of Aylmer and have their family roots in Elgin stemming back many generations. Wendell currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of St. Thomas. Prior to joining the City in 2004, he was the CAO for the Town of Aylmer, a post he held for 10 years. Wendell also serves as Secretary for the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation.

 Other Upcoming MCS Dates:

June 1: Mission Ryders Bike-a-thon. Download registration & sponsorship forms at News & Events

June 29: 13th Annual MCS Charity Auction & Family Fun Run. Download Auction brochure at News & Events.

13th Annual MCS Charity Auction & Family Fun Run  June 29, 2013

MCS’ Charity Auction, widely known for its scrumptious ethnic foods and thrill of live bidding, has become a growing annual tradition in Aylmer. This year’s auction promises to be bigger and better than ever. Auction-goers will have food choices from about 20 booths, including pupusas, and the adventurous will have the opportunity to enjoy a bird's-eye view of Aylmer from the bubble of a helicopter! The Auction Planning Committee is also expecting many of the usual quality items people come to buy and bid on such as the pork products, handmade Mennonite furniture, a handmade wooden double porch swing, an enclosed trailer, and— this year—a refurbished car donated by the shop program at EESS.

Auction Committee Chairman, John Unger, says there is still opportunity for those who want to be involved. The committee is accepting donations of items and is also looking for volunteers to help out at the event.

The Charity Auction is MCS’ only fundraising event. It raises around $40,000 every year for local and global programming through MCS and MCC.

Auction takes place at the Aylmer Curling Club, 245 Sydenham St. E

6:45 am: Registration for Family Fun Run begins

7 am: Breakfast & viewing

7:15 am: Fun Run begins

9 am: Bidding starts

11 am: Lunch booths open

Come early; the sale is anticipated to be shorter this year as smaller items will be sold garage-sale style.

Follow the link below for brochure.

13th Annual Aylmer Charity Auction

Making Use of Your Unusables
Your Thrift Store Donations @ Work in Your Community and Around the World

Spring is just a few more weeks away. This is the time of year when many of us will purge our closets and basements. Bags and boxes will be packed with the things that clutter not only our homes, but our lives, too.

The only question, now, is how do you deal with all that stuff you’ve put in the boxes and bags? Some things still hold some value – just not to you. You certainly don’t want them thrown into a landfill, but neither do you want to see them sitting on a thrift store shelf somewhere priced at only a dollar or two. Other items are just the opposite, seeming a little too well-used to be of any value to anyone.

At the Aylmer Mennonite Community Store, staff and volunteers have come up with creative solutions on best uses for your unwanted items from both ends of the spectrum... continue reading

2/13

Facing the Challenges of 2013

Over the years, the East Elgin Community has benefited much from MCC’s services in the area.  MCC is a recognized agency with a long history but, with the recent changes to the name and structure of the Aylmer location, Mennonite Community Services (MCS) is a relative newcomer. It has become very clear that the community at large does not really know very much about MCS.

This last year, Dr. Harry Cummings from the University of Guelph School of Environmental Design and Rural Development was engaged to do an Impact Assessment on MCS.  The findings are very encouraging. MCS received high praise from the various stakeholders, including clients, partnering agencies and funders.  The challenge now is to “be out there”, not only with the services, but to become more of a known entity to circles beyond clients, partners and funders. 

Being so rural creates unique challenges, especially remoteness. One very successful project to address this concern is our Settlement Stories Quilt Trail.  The Quilt Trail goes beyond our immediate stakeholders to communicate to the local community the vital role of MCS in it. It brings with it more awareness of our presence and the needs we address.

Because of the high needs for our services and the impact we are making, we have been led to make various internal challenges, namely space and resources.  Though they are by no means clear yet what these will be, we trust that 2013 will bring us some solutions on both fronts.

Abe Harms, Executive Director 

01/13

Impact Assessment Study Shows MCS Services Vital to the Community

An Impact Assessment Study on MCS by Dr. Harry Cummings of the University of Guelph of Environmental Design and Rural Development was completed in 2012. The study findings are very interesting and encouraging. Following are some of the highlights of the study and a brief summary of the impact MCS programs are making... continue reading

01/13

Experience A Day in Life at MCS’ Aylmer Resource Centre Newcomer & Settlement Services...

The Aylmer Resource Centre is a busy centre that provides a wide range of services to hundreds of people every year. We invite you to read on and spend a typical day with us.

The day begins with a weekly briefing for the team in MCS’ Resource Centre. This meeting is a chance to catch up and discuss any changes or issues that have arisen during the week. The hour passes quickly and then it’s 10:00 am – the sign is flipped and the front door unlocked. Often, there are a number of people already waiting; as they file in the phone begins its incessant ringing...

continue reading

01/13 

Getting Involved

The mandate of MCS as a charitable organization, to respond to the needs of people, is only achievable through the generosity of people.  Giving of your time and talents, as well as your donations of funds and goods, help us to fulfill the goals of servitude.  Whether your interests lie in our visitation, outreach, volunteer drive and/or interpreting programs, or volunteering in the thrift store, there is a range of skills and talents needed.  Consider getting involved.  Contact us at 519-765-3020 for more information.     

Resources

MCS seeks to “faithfully link resources with needs”.  Check out the latest publications of Die Mennonitische Post , Das Blatt, and Kurze Nachrichten aus Mexiko, as well as our bookstore for favourite and new titles of books, Bibles, cds, and dvds. 

Community Partnerships and Church Affiliates

MCS values its partnerships with community agencies.  We are also blessed in having the leadership of a volunteer board of directors. Members of the board are nominated for election from five local Mennonite constituent church groups.