While many people attend the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale to participate in the auction, enjoy the selection of food or support the many ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee to which the proceeds go, few take time to think about all the hard work and effort that goes into creating such a weekend.
This year the event will take place July 11-12 at the Mt. Hope Event Center, and with it being a special 60th anniversary, there will be plenty of events to add to the annual auction, silent auction, food and more.
“This event takes hundreds of volunteers making self-sacrifices, giving their time and energy, pouring out their gifts and their efforts with goods and services, and it is an effort that we can never say thank you enough,” said Mike Palmer, OMRS board chair. “It’s absolutely mind-boggling to see how all the pieces fit together.”
Palmer said the connection with OMRS and MCC is a tight bond, with both organizations focused on aiding the world and cultivating peace with events like this one that take place all over the United States and help raise funding for MCC to reach around the globe in humanitarian efforts.
While older generations know about everything MCC offers, Palmer said introducing MCC’s efforts to younger people is something they want to focus on.
“Next generations don’t really know what MCC or the relief sale is all about, and we want to do a better job of engaging and educating them,” Palmer said. “It’s important to keep the message shared by MCC and the relief sale out there among each generation.”
Palmer also said with this year falling on a significant anniversary, the goal was to add additional entertainment on Friday, July 11 — entertainment that is well known and beloved in this area.
Local singer John Schmid, ventriloquist Ryan Bomgardner and County Line Band will create a trifecta of entertainment throughout the evening.
“It’s an evening of food, fellowship, and great music and entertainment,” Palmer said.
New to this year’s weekend will be a raffle. People will be able to purchase tickets throughout the weekend, and people need not be present to win.
Another venture this year will be a matching fund effort. According to Palmer, three local companies have donated $60,000 in total, and on Friday evening, auctioneer Eli Troyer will work toward inspiring people to match those funds as a collective effort.
“One of the things we strive to do is to get people engaged and involved in the effort to reach out into the world to provide aid, peace and hope,” Palmer said.
Saturday is the big day, with the auction serving as the highlight. There are approximately 100 handmade quilts along with wallhangings, crib quilts, and several hundred general items including handcrafted furniture, hand tools, lawn mowers, outdoor furniture, a new Ventrac mower, a golf cart and more. There also will be a silent auction board filled with hundreds of gift items.
Palmer said all the proceeds will go toward aiding people in need around the world.
“It’s easy for many of us to get pretty comfortable, and these funds will all go toward people in dire need who don’t have the luxury of taking the everyday things we have for granted,” Palmer said.
Saturday will begin with the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with sausage, eggs and more, and the food list offers favorites like barbecued chicken, homemade ice cream, noodles, Amish fry pies, sandwiches, smoothies and the Laotian egg rolls.
Another way to give is through the My Coins Count program, one that sees many churches throughout Northeast Ohio collecting for the project that sees MCC provide clean water for struggling countries.
The My Coins Count cyclone machine will be on hand for kids and adults alike to send coins racing down the funnel toward providing fresh water.
Quilter’s Corner will present everything a quilter could want for their hobby, and the Artisan’s Marketplace will offer all types of handmade items, many of them from around the world. There also will be a children’s auction and children’s games, a live plant sale, a volleyball tournament, and the annual Run 4 Relief Saturday morning.
Mennonite Disaster Service will once again have its disaster trailer on hand, along with volunteers who will share the many ways MDS is reaching out to aid people.
MCC also will be on hand to share their ongoing efforts and to talk about their new facility in Kidron, where they have groups come to create food kits and where there are quilting stations and more.
For more information or to sign up for an online bidding number, visit the website at www.ohiomccreliefsale.org. Some of the items in the auction may be viewed on that site.
