SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 57th annual Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale is set for Friday and Saturday at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
The event raises money for the Mennonite Central Committee, a Christian relief and development organization founded in 1920 that supports communities in need across North America and around the world.
“The last couple of years we’ve been able to top $600,000,” said Jim Robb, board chair. “A few years ago, because of some of the donations we had at that point, we were able to donate over $700,000 to Mennonite Central Committee.”
Funds raised go toward MCC-supported missions in 45 countries, including the United States and Canada.
A major draw of the event is the food, with more than 35,000 New Year’s cookies and 17,000 verenike made by nearly 1,000 volunteers.
You can find where all of the food can be found by clicking here.
Robb said estimating attendance has become difficult, though there was once a method.
“Years ago, when the cars came in, there would be people who had a clicker and they would count the cars,” he said. “Then they would multiply by three, and that was how they determined the attendance. We don’t do that anymore, so it’s really hard to tell.”
The two-day event features live music, children’s activities, and five auctions.
“One of those is the general auction, which also has an online component,” Robb said. “That starts at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. We also have a preview auction Friday night at 6 p.m. that lasts about an hour.”
More than 200 quilts will be sold during the quilt auction, which also begins at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. A children’s auction will be held in the Pride of Kansas Building, alongside kid-friendly activities.
“We hope that the children will gain an understanding of auctions and learn that the money helps someone else,” Robb said.
The sale is organized by a 24-member board representing communities and churches across the state.
“They come from a wide range of areas,” Robb said. “We’ve had members from as far south as Harper County, and from places like Topeka, Reno, Harvey, McPherson and Saline counties. Some represent churches, others represent communities — it’s a diverse group.”
Robb is not sure how many attendees they will have, but shared a story of how they used to figure the attendance.
"It's really hard for us to tell, years ago when the cars came in, there would be people who would have a clicker and they would click the cars and keep track of the cars," Robb said. "Then they would multiply by three and that was the way they determined the attendance. We don't do that any more, so it's really hard to tell."
The two-day event is full of live music, auctions, and food.
"All total, we have five different auctions," Robb said. "One of those is the general auction, which we do have an online component for that. That starts at 8:45 on Saturday morning, we do have a preview auction on Friday night at 6 o'clock that's only for an hour. Over 200 quilts will be sold at the quilt auction and that starts at 8:45 on Saturday morning. In addition to that, we have a children's auction which is in the Pride of Kansas building where we have children's activities. We hope that the children will get an understanding of the auctions and that the money goes towards helping someone else."
The event would not be possible without the board members.
"We have a board that has 24 members," Robb said. "They're from wide ranging areas around Kansas, we have members from as far south as Harper County, we've had people from the Topeka area, Reno, Harvey, McPherson and Saline counties are all involved. Some members are reflecting churches, some are more communities, it's a diverse group."
To find the complete schedule of events click here.