The Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale, April 8-9, offers 24 hours of bidding on quilts and antique vehicles and tractors, purchasing crafted items, activities for kids and enjoying a variety of foods at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson.
The event?s purpose is to raise funds for Mennonite Central Committee, a world-relief organization offering relief, development and peace programs in 58 countries.
The KMRS features five diverse auctions, children?s activities, international and local crafts. A cafeteria-style meal served Friday and Saturday feature traditional Mennonite foods and more.
Around 70 Kansas Menno?nite, Brethren in Christ and Amish congregations join forces?utilizing an all-volunteer staff?to organize, donate items and funds to make the sale possible.
In 2015, KMRS donated $580,000 to MCC, a combination of sale proceeds, MCC Ride for Relief and other donations to KMRS.
Five auctions are planned:
? Quilt Auction, featuring around 200 hand-crafted quilts and quilt related items
? General Auction, features a new Residential Hustler Raptor SD, 1948 Olds Coupe, 1967 Ford F-750, 1988 Chevy S-10 with topper, 2005 Ford Freestar Mini-Van, 1948 8N Ford restored, 1952 Allis Chalmers WD tractor restored, 1956 MM 445 restored, Allis Chalmers 170, 1974 Honda CB200T, 1995 Honda four-wheeler, one-seat buggy complete with shafts, harness and bridle, used John Deere 165 hydrostatic mower, china cabinet, tools, antiques, and various hand-crafted Mennonite furniture and children?s toys;
? a Silent Auction featuring a natural pink pear shaped diamond pendant donated by Gemstone Jewelers, ceramics offered by local artisans, golf package for four at Prairie Dunes and hand-crafted items;
? a Kids? Auction at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pride of Kansas Building;
? Surplus Auction.
Also being sold (pre-priced) are international (fair trade) and Kansas craft items, 1,000 garden plants, souvenirs, baked foods, cheeses, hams and sausage.
The children?s activity building includes nine-hole mini golf and various inflatables donated by Inflate-O-Fun Inc., Inman, for all ages?all inside the Pride of Kansas Building.
Traditional Mennonite and American foods also served throughout the fairgrounds.
A 5K Run for Relief is scheduled 8 a.m. Saturday at Rice Park. Entry forms are available at kansas.mccsale.org or contact Angie Teeter at 620-327-4434.
The KMRS begins at 4 p.m. Friday with food service in all buildings, including Feeding the Multitude, featuring Russian-German and wiss Mennonite foods, in the Cottonwood Court.
Auction items open for viewing at 4 p.m. along with the sale of priced items. The Silent Auction opens bidding at 5 p.m. in Sun?flower South and the General Auction starts 6 p.m. Friday in the Sunflower Building North.
The sale continues Saturday with breakfast service starting at 7 a.m., sale of priced items at 8 a.m. and the Silent Auction reopens bidding at 8 a.m. while the General and Quilt auctions start at 8:45 a.m..
The weekend concludes with the Surplus Auction in Sunflower South starting about 2:30 p.m.
The sale is the second largest annual event scheduled at the fairgrounds.
Everyone is welcome to attend the sale. Admission and parking are free. For more information visit the sale website at kansas.mccsale.org or like KMRS on Facebook at Kansas Menno?nite Relief Sale; or contact Jim Robb, KMRS chair, at 620-345-7142, info@kansas.mcc?sale.org.
