Ephrata Material Resources Center celebrates 50 years

From its earliest days in 1920, MCC shipped humanitarian aid to international sites needing assistance. The process became more intense with the depravation and desolation of Europe during and after World War II. As the demand for clothing and other materials increased, the meetinghouse previously used by the Ephrata Mennonite congregation at 150 West Fulton Street, Ephrata, Pennsylvania, grew into a location to collect, sort and bale clothing for MCC’s ministries. School kits and Christmas bundles also passed through this facility, continuing until the 1960s.

From left, Susie Rutt, Mrs. Alvin Martin and Anna Gingerich (an MCC voluntary service worker from Plain City, Ohio) inspect Christmas bundles at the MCC clothing center in Ephrata before they are sent overseas, in 1960. // Susie Rutt prepares Christmas bundles for shipment overseas at the MRC, in 1973.MCC photo/Leland Haines // MCC photo/John Hamm

Late in the 1960s, John Hostetler, MCC’s material resources director, joined other MCC administrators in seeking a more fitting home for this work. A parcel of land in Ephrata donated by Mahlon and Bertha Stauffer, and just four miles from the MCC Akron offices, became available. The new location was known as the Material Resources Center or MRC.

MCC held a public dedication for the new facility at 517 West Trout Run Road, Ephrata, on May 17, 1970. In its first years, the MRC provided storage and retail space for Self Help Crafts. Self Help Crafts, now Ten Thousand Villages, moved from the MRC in 1987, and continues to provide access to sustainable income and life-changing opportunities to artisans in dozens of countries.

Mrs. Edna Ruth Byler, director of overseas needlework and crafts, shows potential buyers her self-help craft products at the Paradise Mennonite Church in Paradise, Pennsylvania, in October of 1970. // Exterior view of the Self-Help Crafts store in Ephrata, in 1989.MCC photo/Burton Buller // MCC photo/Jodie Peters

The administrative lodging of the MRC within the MCC structure changed in 1991. In that year, responsibility for the MRC moved from MCC’s international programming to the MCC East Coast regional programming. Throughout these changes, the MRC remained the major shipping point for international humanitarian aid from the U.S. due to its proximity to major East Coast shipping ports.

Alta Erb knots a comforter at the MRC, in 1984. // MaryAnn Engle knots a comforter at The Great Winter Warm-up held Saturday, January 18, 2020, at the MRC.MCC photo/Jim King // MCC photo/Jim Wiegner

In 1991, the collection and distribution of grocery bags within the U.S. became a project of MCC East Coast and the Paradise Sewing Room moved to the MRC. The old warehouse was enlarged under the new administration in 2000.

Some patterns have persisted since the beginning of the MRC. Then, as now, volunteers accomplish much of the work. Decades old activities such as quilting, baling comforters and preparing school kits, infant care kits, relief kits and hygiene kits continue today.

Anna Snyder and Mrs. Lehman display one of the handmade quilts from the MCC clothing center in Ephrata, in the early 1950s. // Women stitch on a “scrappy stars” quilt at the MRC, in March of 2018.MCC photo/Name Here

Changing needs among MCC’s international partners meant some activities were discontinued. These days, no one rolls bandages for leprosy hospitals. Today, no one sorts and folds clothing to be sent to MCC’s international partners.

Volunteers bale clothing at the MCC clothing center in Ephrata, in 1959, in preparation to be sent overseas. MCC encouraged clothing centers in the U.S. and Canada to collect good quality clothing which was sent to locations in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.  // Landis Huber Kreider bales clothing and other textiles at the MRC, in 2019, as a recycling initiative of the center. During the 2018-19 fiscal year, the MRC diverted 413 tons of clothing and textiles from landfills and generated $144,793 towards MCC’s relief, development and peace efforts around the world.MCC photo // MCC photo/Diana Voth

However, some new activities emerged to capture volunteer energy. Recycling became a means of inviting volunteers to contribute to the financial support of MCC. In 2000, this activity greatly increased when the MCC Thrift shop in Ephrata began a used bookstore and needed to find an outlet for unsold books. In addition, prisoner care kits were created in 2017 to respond to a growing need for personal hygiene items for those incarcerated in Philadelphia prisons.

A group of volunteers work together at the book recycling area at the MRC, in 2017. Book bindings are removed and covers and pages are sorted into large bins to aid in the recycling process. // Henry Horst, of Lititz, and Leroy Beitzel, of Manheim, work in the cardboard recycling area at the MRC, in 2017. Cardboard and paper are baled before they are sold to recycling companies to generate income for MCC.MCC photo/Frederick Yocum // MCC photo/Brenda Burkholder

Over the years, the numbers of volunteers at the MRC have increased. Many years tallied well over 10,000 volunteer-days. The Lancaster area Old Order Amish community continues to be the single largest volunteer group each year.

In April of 2019, the MRC hosted one of its annual Amish volunteer groups along with some of their weekly volunteers. Here you can see Amish straw hats hanging with a baseball cap. // In January of 2020, the MRC hosted another large Amish volunteer group which included over 40 Amish women in the quilt room. Amish bonnets, coats and shawls hang on the MRC’s coat rack.MCC photos/Diana Voth

Thanks to dedicated volunteers and donors from Pennsylvania and surrounding states, MCC’s East Coast region generates about 70% of the U.S. humanitarian aid that MCC ships internationally.

Humanitarian aid is not MCC’s largest work in the 21st century. It is, however, MCC’s oldest work and in many ways among its most visible work. The MRC remains a venue inviting volunteers – of almost any age and ability level – to contribute to MCC’s relief, development and peace ministries offered in many locations around the world “in the Name of Christ.”

In November of 1998, Ruth Weaver helps to pack buckets with relief supplies at the MRC. The buckets were MCC's emergency response to flooding in Honduras caused by Hurricane Mitch. // Volunteer Bob Landis comes two to three times per week to pack relief kits at the MRC. The MRC continues to follow state COVID-19 social distancing safety protocols, helping to ensure volunteers and staff are safe. Photo taken September of 2020.MCC photo/Tony Siemen // MCC photo/Marilyn Peters

Kenneth Sensenig serves as Assistant Director for MCC East Coast. He specializes in MCC history and resides in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

The Ephrata MRC remains open during the pandemic with strategies in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Volunteers are needed as we continue to process recycling donations and prepare to ship humanitarian aid to our partners in need around the world. To get involved, please email EastCoastMRC@mcc.org or call (717) 733-2847.