Mennonite churches gear up for annual relief sale

Pictured here are seven of the nine vehicles that will be auctioned at the Kansas Menno?nite Relief Sale this weekend in Hutchinson: (from left) a 1972 Buick, a 1950 John Deere MTW, a 1942 Allis Chalmers B, a 1937 John Deere A, a 1943 John Deere B, a 1936 John Deere A and a 1985 Lincoln Town Car. Two antique tractors are not pictured: a 1937 Minnea?polis Twin City KTA and a 1946 Ford 2N.Organizers expect 20,000 to 25,000 people to gather Friday and Saturday for the 46th annual Kansas Menno?nite Relief Sale at the state fairgrounds in Hutchinson.

The sale, which raised $469,000 last year, benefits Mennonite Central Com?mittee, a world-relief organization operating in 60 coun?tries.

More than 1,000 volunteers help at the sale, including many individuals from congregations in Marion County.

Five auctions

As in past years, much of the money raised at the sale is generated by five auctions on the sale docket:

n The children?s auction, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pride of Kansas Building, is intended to be a ?fun and educational experience.? Children, accompan?ied by an adult, are invited to bid on items such as games, dolls and more to raise money for people in need.

n The general auction starts at 6 p.m. Friday and resumes at 8:45 a.m. Satur?day in the Sun?flower Build?ing North. It features items such as tractors, tools, antiques, handcrafted furniture and children?s toys and decor items.

n The quilt auction starts at 8:45 a.m. Saturday in the Meadow?lark Building and runs concurrently with the general auction. Both auctions will run throughout the morning and early afternoon.

About 250 handmade Mennonite quilts, comforters and wall hangings will be available for bidding.

n The silent auction begins at 5 p.m. Friday and resumes 8 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Sun?flower Building South. It features items such as golf packages, antiques and handcrafted items.

n The surplus auction starts around 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Sunflower Building South to sell food items that did not sell out during the sale.

Nine antique vehicles

One of the attractions at the general auction is the sale of antique vehicles.

?We have a total of nine antique vehicles that have been donated for this year?s sale?seven tractors and two cars,? said Jerry Toews, a volunteer from Goessel who heads that aspect of the sale. ?Some are exceptional donations.?

One of tractors is an Unstyled 1943 John Deere Nidek B donated by Oliver and Elizabeth Unruh, longtime Hillsboro residents now living in North Newton.

The tractor was painted by Dennis Funk of Hills?boro.

?Dennis is known for being very particular and it shows,? Toews said.

The other tractors offered for sale are a rare 1950 John Deere MTW, a 1942 Allis Chalmers B, a 1937 John Deere A on skeleton steel wheels, a 1936 John Deere A with mounted planter, a 1937 Minneapolis Twin City KTA and a 1946 Ford 2N.

The two automobiles are a 1972 Buick and a 1985 Lincoln Town Car with only 50,000 miles.

Food options

Another popular fund?raiser is the sale of German, Swiss and Russian Menno?nite ethnic foods. Bulk sales are available.

For those looking to eat on site, a pancake and sausage breakfast is served from 6:30-10 a.m. Saturday morning at the Cottonwood Court. Last year, more than 1,300 people partook of eggs, pancakes, German sausages and orange juice, milk or coffee.

Typically 6,000 to 10,000 people partake at the ?Feed?ing of the Multi?tude,? a German buffet offered in Cottonwood Court. The menu features verenika, bohne beroggi, borscht soup, cherry and plum moos, zwiebach rolls and home-made pie.

A barbecued-chicken meal will be available Saturday starting at noon.

More events

Other features of the sale include:

n free bluegrass gospel concert featuring The Book of JEBB at 7 p.m. Friday in the Meadowlark Building. The concert will be preceded by a Kids Jam at 6 p.m.

n a 5-kilometer ?Run for Relief? starting at 8 a.m. Saturday in Hutchinson?s Rice Park.

n more than 1,000 garden plants, trees and flowers for sale.

n inflatables and miniature golf for children in the Pride of Kansas Building.

n handmade Mennonite furniture and toys.

For more information about the sale, go to kansas.mccsale.org.

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