Skip to content

Donate now

Choose province

Set your location

Tell us where you are so we can show you news from your area.
Visit MCC U.S.
Canada Go to U.S. site
Mennonite Central Committee

Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ

Search form

Learn more Get involved Centennial Contact us Donate
Get involved Current openings What we do
Learn more Centennial Contact us Donate
Menu

Mennonite Central Committee

Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) shares God's love and compassion for all in the name of Christ by responding to basic human needs and working for peace and justice.

About MCC​

  • Message from the executive director
  • Vision and Mission
  • Leadership and Board
  • Annual reports
  • Funding and reports
  • Coalitions
  • Historical records

COVID-19 response

  • COVID-19 stories
  • Resources for a time of uncertainty
  • COVID-19 provincial updates
  • How you can help

Publications and resources

  • A Common Place magazine
  • In Touch newsletter
  • Intersections quarterly
  • Education resources

Stories

Virtual visits

Podcasts

What we do

  • Relief
  • Food
  • Water
  • Health
  • Education
  • Refugees
  • Peace
  • Restorative Justice
  • Canadian Programs

Where we work

Donate to MCC

Give a gift that changes lives, supporting MCC’s work around the world. Donate now.

Events

  • Relief sales
  • Canning

Make kits or comforters

Advocate

  • Peace & Justice Office
  • Advocacy in Ontario
  • UN Office

Fundraise

  • Host a fundraiser
  • Donate now
  • Legacy Giving
  • My Coins Count/Penny Power
  • Giving Registries

Serve

  • Work with us
  • Volunteer locally
  • Young adult programs

Alumni

Thrift Shops

Looking for more information?
Get in touch with a representative from your region here.

Happy Birthday, MCC! 

It's been 100 years since we first started responding to basic human needs in southern Russia (present-day Ukraine). Now, we continue to work for relief, development and peace all over the world. 

Engage

  • 100 Stories
  • Alumni reunions

Give Back

  • Our Faith. Our Future.
  • Legacy giving
  • New roots

Advocate

  • Advocacy campaign
  • Send a message to your MP

To mark 100 years of sharing God’s love and compassion, and your generosity and partnership through the decades, we invite you to explore stories from MCC’s decades of work around the world.

Looking for your local office? Tell us where you are so we can show you locations and news around you.

MCC Canada
MCC Canada
134 Plaza Dr.
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9
Canada
Office: (844) 732-2346
Toll Free: (877) 684-1181
Fax: (204) 269-9875
canada@mcccanada.ca
News media contact: Media coordinator
134 Plaza Drive
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5K9
Canada
Office: (844) 732-2346
media@mcccanada.ca

Contact MCC

  • General contacts
  • Media contacts
  • Contact Human Resources
  • Send us your questions

Find a Thrift Shop

Manage your subscriptions

  • A Common Place magazine
  • In Touch newsletter

Where needed most

A gift to where needed most supports the breadth of MCC’s work – meeting urgent needs and building stronger, healthier communities. Give today.

Donate

  • Current disaster responses
  • Share Your Table
  • More giving projects

Giving Registries

Other ways to give

  • Make kits and comforters
  • Legacy Giving
  • My Coins Count/Penny Power
  • Support a service worker

More information

  • FAQs
  • Annual reports
  • Privacy policy
  • Security information

You are here

  1. Home
  2. Stories
  3. Building skills and having fun
WINNIPEG

Building skills and having fun

Students welcomed back to employment skills program

March 22, 2021

By Rebecca Janzen

Following the recommendations from fellow classmates, Hanna Domingo was looking for a meaningful internship when she reached out to Sam’s Place to learn about the volunteer program. After successfully securing a place in the program, Domingo was able to grow many skills and left a great impression on her peers and staff through her dedication and leadership.

Located in Winnipeg’s Elmwood neighbourhood, Sam’s Place is a volunteer-run café with fair trade products and second-hand books for sale that operates as a social enterprise under the umbrella of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Manitoba.

Sam's Place offers mentorship and job training for youth to gain employable skills and experience. Though volunteering looks a little different throughout the pandemic, opportunities are still available.

“My high school is not like a traditional school,” Domingo said, explaining that the internship program is an important part of Seven Oaks Met School. As a Grade 11 student, she can work two days a week at various internships, most recently at Sam’s Place.

Because of her interest in gaining experience in as many work fields as she can, Domingo jumped at the opportunity to work in food services. In October, before the implementation of strict provincial restrictions for businesses, Domingo began her internship.

Hanna Domingo practices making a specialty coffee drink.MCC photo/Rebecca Janzen

“It’s not super stressful,” Domingo shares talking about the learning curve of working at Sam’s place in many roles around the café.

“She’s trained in all areas and does exceptionally well in all,” said Laura Murray, Sam’s Place’s youth and volunteer engagement coordinator. Murray added that Domingo has made great progress from when she started at Sam’s Place.

Her first role was in the dish pit, and since then Domingo has learned many different positions in the café including fulfilling orders, serving, assisting with retail, and her favorite role, working front of house as cashier and barista.

From her neat writing visible on the signs, menus and thank-you cards for customers, to the warm food and drinks she prepares for the customers, Domingo is dedicated to her role at Sam’s Place.

Domingo works on handwriting thank-you cards. You might recognize her unique style on the chalk menu during your visit to Sam's Place.MCC photo/Rebecca Janzen

Domingo’s keen awareness of what needs to be done and her ability to help other volunteers in their training has made her a great addition to the program, said Murray.

“It’s pretty fascinating to see how each of us is slowly building skills,” said Domingo. “It’s a fun learning experience.”

“It’s pretty fascinating to see how each of us is slowly building skills,” said Domingo, reflecting on her own experience and from witnessing other volunteers learn new skills. “It’s a fun learning experience.”

Along with developing her work skills at Sam’s Place, Domingo has been able to learn more about MCC’s work and what it is like to be a part of a social enterprise.

“It’s a great program. It’s not just focused on the business, it’s focused on helping volunteers build their skills.”

Though her internship looks different than participants from before the pandemic, Domingo has been able to utilize this opportunity for growth. While balancing her training and navigating extra health and safety precautions due to COVID-19, Domingo has been a great addition to the Sam’s Place team, said Murray.

Domingo also had the opportunity to enjoy it too. The barbecue pulled pork or the triple grilled cheese sandwich and a hot matcha latte are now on the list of her favourite foods to order at Sam’s Place.

To learn more about the café and volunteer program, visit http://sams.place

Share this story
Share
Tweet
Plus 1

Donate today

Every gift makes a difference

Please enter your donation amount

Sign up for our e-newsletter

Stories and photos from MCC delivered to your inbox once a month.

Connect with MCC

Like us on Facebook
View on Instagram
Follow us on Twitter
Subscribe on Youtube
  • Learn more
    • A Common Place
    • Where we work
    • What we do
      • Relief
      • Food
      • Water
      • Health
      • Education
      • Refugees
      • Peace
      • Restorative justice
    • Privacy
  • Get involved
    • Employment
    • Events
    • Kits
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Donate
    • Donate now
    • Legacy giving
    • Donation FAQ
    • Giving registries
Mennonite Central Committee
© 2023 Mennonite Central Committee
CRA #: 107690877