MCC Relief Sale: Fun and Giving in Alberta
Throughout Canada and the United States, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) relief sales bring together food, fun and items from quilts to puzzles in all raising more than $6 million each year for MCC's worldwide relief, development and peace work.
There are 31 relief sales in the United States and 14 in Canada this year, with an estimated 20,000 volunteers coming together to make auctions, food booths, entertainment and other activities possible. There are so many volunteers in Alberta interested in contributing their time and skills that the sale location has to alternate between three areas of the province -Edmonton/Sherwood Park, Didsbury/Calgary, and Coaldale- in order to give everyone a chance to participate at least once every three years.
"The excitement of the volunteers is really great to see," said Bev Patkau, Auction Coordinator for the Alberta Sale Committee "Everybody's trying to do the best job they can and raise the most money for MCC." Volunteers range in age from 5 to 95 and families often make working at the sale a yearly activity.
This year an excited group of Didsbury youth (ages 11-12) have worked for months with long-term local quilter, Kathy Peters, sewing quilted Christmas tree-skirts. The tree-skirts will sold at this year's sale.
While the sale location may rotate, there are two ingredients that don't change, "Expect to find friendly faces and wonderful food," Patkau said.
Each sale also reflects the traditions and backgrounds of members of local churches and communities. Calgary has an active Laotian Mennonite community, and the home-made spring rolls they contribute each year to the sale are a crowd favorite. In British Columbia, offerings ranged from 25,750 perogies to a local aboriginal group's donation of salmon barbecue.
Donations go beyond congregations who traditionally support the sale. At this year's sale in Didsbury, AB, a prominent businessman who believes in the work of MCC is donating a tread mill. During the sale each step on the treadmill will raise money specifically for the HIV/AIDS programs of MCC and later the treadmill will be sold at the auction. Relief sales are truly community events.
Handmade quilts are a staple of the sales and raise significant funds. Individual quilts have often fetched more $2500. Another hallmark of relief sales is sorting coins for Penny Power, an effort to collect spare change for MCC's work. "You'll hear the jingle of coins at the sale. They might be in wheelbarrows. They might be in hog troughs. They might be spread out on tables," Berg said. This year, all funds raised by Penny Power in Alberta will fund MCC's international water/agriculture projects.
Ten Thousand Villages, an MCC sister organization and one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, also plays a prominent role at the Sale. With more than 130 artisan groups in more than 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, Ten Thousand Villages always brings a unique blend of fair trade jewelry, home decor, gifts and more. life.
The 2009 MCC Alberta Relief Sale and Auction will be held at the Didsbury Memorial Complex June 12 and 13. The auction opens with a BBQ supper at 5:00 pm on Friday and a free breakfast on Saturday at 7:30. Admission to the sale is free, for more information, contact the MCCA office at (403) 275-6935, or visit www.mccreliefsale.com
Written by Adam Beriault (May 25, 2009)
Adam Beriault is the Communications Coordinator works for MCC Alberta.
