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| The annual auction will be on line this year. |
Here's the latest update from our Relief Sale Board:
The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale has had a long tradition of uniting people for the common cause of raising money for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to help people around the world "In the Name of Christ." Last year we were able to raise over $300,000, our highest amount ever. In fact, almost every year that amount increases!
Each year it takes many volunteers working together to pull off such an event and we very much appreciate all of their work and efforts. The Relief Sale Board wants to proceed with caution to protect the health and safety of those volunteers and everyone who supports the sale.
The 54th Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale will look very different this year due to COVID restrictions and social distancing
recommendations. Although we are still exploring various options, here is a preview of what will be happening:
- There will be an online auction only. We are currently having the online auction website/app built for us. Items to be auctioned off will need to be photographed before a specified date to be displayed on the auction website. Items will then be brought to the
Rockingham Fairgrounds the morning of October 1. We will have all items displayed for people to view Thursday (October 1) through Saturday (October 3) at specified times. All through this time, people can be bidding online for each item. The auction will then start closing items Saturday morning (you can watch items/prices live online). Once an item closes, the high bidder would then come to the fairgrounds to pick up the item. We are also exploring shipping options. Payment could be done online with credit card or in person.
- We will still encourage people to donate baked goods to be sold at the fairgrounds. People can buy these items as they view the auction items (Thursday through Saturday).
- We are exploring the idea of having drive through dinners available. We could possibly have Beef BBQ, fresh Mississippi Catfish, Chicken BBQ, or other items available. We will be contacting those in charge of different foods to gauge their comfort level in participating this year.
- The Run for Relief 5K is still happening in one form or another.
- The Sharing Our Surplus (SOS) committee is planning a family-friendly three-mile "Hundreds For Hundreds Campaign" Refugee Relief Walk for 6 pm August 23. Participants are to solicit sponsors and/or simply make a generous donation. Those not wanting to join in a group walk can choose another time and place, and make contributions as indicated below*. For more information on the Walk contact Mark Keller mkeller123@gmail.com or 434-4535.
- We invite churches to do their own fundraisers for MCC. We would gladly publicize the event for you through our facebook page and church newsletters. These events could be done at any time, not just on the Relief Sale weekend. We have considered the possibility of having 2-4 churches sell their items at a central location as a drive-through option.
- My Coins Count will continue to collect coins (or bills/checks). We will collect these at a location to be determined. Congregations could consider making some sort of matching donation.
- We encourage individual fundraising, like someone who recently made a lot of sweet rolls and sold them as a fundraiser for MCC. Think creatively in how you might raise money.
As MCC is celebrating its 100th year, let’s help make this the
Maybe we can even top the $300,000 we raised last year!
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* Note: Credit card contributions can be made any time at https://vareliefsale.com/donate/. Checks should be made out to "Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale" (with SOS in the memo line if you want it to go specifically for the "Hundreds for Hundreds" campaign for refugee relief).
The mailing address is Relief Sale, 601 Parkwood Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 (the Virginia Mennonite Conference Center).
The mailing address is Relief Sale, 601 Parkwood Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 (the Virginia Mennonite Conference Center).
Twenty years ago I attended the MCC auction at the fairgrounds in Bath, NY. The first lot was a loaf of home baked bread that I remember went for $50, that set the tone for the auction. I bought a John Deere peddle tractor because my DIL was pregnant with my first grandchild, he loved to ride it and today is 6'4" tall and weighs 235 lbs. Last weekend we got together at our place for Father's Day and my 7 and 9 year old granddaughters where riding it up and down the drive. For the last number of years we have attended the Haiti Benefit Auction at the fairgrounds in Penn Yan, NY, but this year it was canceled. During these times we all need to think outside the box. Good luck with your auction.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tom, for your encouragement, and for sharing your memory.
ReplyDelete