Area preparing for Mennonite Relief Sale

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
The climax of another year of efforts to create resources to feed hungry people is only days away.

Friday mid-afternoon, April 12, marks the beginning of a 24-hour period during which about 22,000 people are expected to enter the Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson, to participate in the 34th Annual Mennonite Relief Sale.

Central to making the event a reality are the sale’s 24-member board, about 40 committees, and contact people representing 70 Kansas churches. Their work helps to organize the efforts and contributions of hundreds of seamstresses and artisans-as well as myriad volunteers working in food preparation and services on the grounds.

It’s their way of sharing their gifts-“Many gifts…but the same spirit,” as the 2002 sale theme states. All proceeds benefit Mennonite Central Committee to be used for hunger relief and community development worldwide.

Pre-priced items

In the Fine Arts Building, priced items include a variety of hand-made Kansas craft items. Plants will be sold in the Floriculture Building. Visitors to the sale can also watch while a volunteer weaves rugs on a floor loom.

International crafts from Ten Thousand Villages will be selling in the Eisenhower Building. In the Commercial Building, sale guests can watch while a potter and a glass blower demonstrate their arts, and can purchase their wares.

Also being made are New Year’s cookies, apple fritters and apple butter.

Opening activities

By 4 p.m., the quilt display opens in the 4-H Exhibit Hall-a new location this year)-and quilt auction reserved seats go on sale. Food service also begins at 4 p.m. All other buildings will be open for purchases at 5 p.m.

Musical entertainment in the Sunflower Building is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., Friday. Performing will be On with the Show (a mixed quartet), Generations II (trumpet trio), and Daughters of Zion (a women’s group).

The evening auction at the Sunflower Building is set for 7:30 p.m.

Special items selling early in the auction will be a mandolin and a violin hand-crafted by Robert Fisher, North Newton, and a a restored 1911 J.A. Baader violin made in Germany.

A wide variety of other hand-crafted and general merchandise will be sold as well. Quilts will be sold the following day.

A Saturday morning breakfast of pancakes and sausage begins at 6 a.m. in the Pride of Kansas Building, and all sale buildings open at 7 a.m. The Run for Relief starts in Rice Park-off the fairgrounds-at 8 a.m. New this year for the kids is a hay-bale maze located north of the Pride of Kansas Building.

Saturday auctions

Two separate auctions begin at 8:45 a.m., Saturday. The quilt auction of more than 250 beautiful handmade quilts and related items this year takes place in the 4-H Exhibit Hall at the northwest end of the fairgrounds. The hobby and general auction takes place at the Sunflower Building, toward the southwest.

Parking and admission are free. However, overnight campers need to pay a fairgrounds fee. Everyone is welcome to attend.

For additional sale information, contact Richard Ediger, sale chair, 620-543-2787; or Howard Kaufman, vice-chair, 620-345-8212.

Mennonite Relief Sale

2002 schedule

Friday evening, April 12

4 p.m.: Quilt display opens, 4-H Exhibit Hall; German buffet, Pride of Kansas Bldg.

5 p.m.: All buildings open for sales.

6 p.m.: Musical program, Sunflower Bldg.

7:30 p.m.: Mini-auction, Sunflower Bldg.

Saturday, April 13

6 to 10 a.m.: Breakfast in Pride of Kansas Bldg.

7 a.m.: All buildings open for sales

8 a.m.: Run for Relief, Rice Park

8:45 a.m.: Quilt Auction, Industrial Bldg.; Hobby and General Auction, Sunflower Bldg.

10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Chicken barbecue, Heartland Cafe; German buffet, Pride of Kansas Bldg.

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