Celebrating reading at Kildonan MCC Thrift Shop

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This article was published 25/02/2022 (1413 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some people’s homes are full of books and magazines, or they own e-readers loaded with fiction or nonfiction volumes on all kinds of subjects. For other people, reading is a rare activity, something that they do only when necessary. 

However, I Love to Read Month in Winnipeg is a chance to bring these two groups together. The Kildonan MCC Thrift Shop at 445 Chalmers Ave. can help encourage reading with its large selection of used books.

According to the Reading Manitoba website, “I Love to Read Month is a month-long celebration of all things reading.” 

Reading can inform, entertain, and connect people in ways that other forms of communication cannot. This year’s theme is “Moving forward with hope,” a very necessary theme with the many hardships the COVID-19 pandemic has brought. 

Many people celebrate the power of reading in their homes and schools. Kildonan MCC Thrift Shop has recognized the month with a special display of books for people to look at and purchase. The display for February’s celebration, placed just in front of the book section, gives shoppers a taste of the volumes available at the store. 

Finding a good book to read can be difficult, especially with the wide variety of choices available. A useful feature of the Kildonan MCC Thrift Shop’s acknowledgement of I Love to Read Month is a board where shoppers or volunteers can write their suggestions of good books. 

Encouraging an interest in books is part of the organization’s mission to build up the neighbourhood. As the shop’s Facebook page notes: “Our volunteers love to read!”   

Besides reminding shoppers of the power of reading, the thrift shop’s participation in this month’s celebration makes good use of resources. Books can often accumulate on people’s shelves, gathering dust for years until they are sold or thrown out. Buying books at a thrift shop helps reduce waste while also giving shoppers the chance for some inexpensive reading. 

A thrift shop is not like a regular bookstore where readers can find a wide range of the newest titles, but it still offers a chance for serendipity. The selection of books always changes, giving people a reason to come back frequently. During I love to Read Month and beyond, the thrift shop at Watt and Chalmers is a good place to visit for information and entertainment.

Readers might even find something that helps them to move forward in hope.

Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for Elmwood. 

Susan Huebert
Elmwood community correspondent

Susan Huebert is a community correspondent for Elmwood

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