Sandy Miller delivers barbecue chicken dinners in the drive-through food event in Kidron, Ohio. In total 480 barbecue chicken dinners were sold along with 60 pies and ice cream.
When thinking about MCC relief sales, images come to mind of communal pancake breakfasts and buildings packed with people bidding on quilts.
Like most large events, relief sales have been unable to take place in traditional formats due to the coronavirus pandemic. But organizers in Ohio and Indiana were determined to find a way to raise funds for MCC in a safe way while keeping the spirit of the relief sales alive.
As it became clear this spring that the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale and Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale wouldn’t have their in-person sales, volunteer board members went to work brainstorming. Last weekend the culmination of lots of hard work resulted in virtual auctions, drive-through food events and outdoor concerts among other creative alternative activities.
“We realized that at a time when MCC needed funds more than ever, relief sales were being canceled, thrift shops were closed and congregations weren’t meeting in person which translated to less funds going to MCC,” said Brenda Latulippe, co-chair of the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale Board. “We felt that we needed to do something to help with the funds, even though it wouldn’t be our traditional sale.”
Both sales found ways to offer some of the delicious food that is a key part of the relief sale experience. There were two drive-through food events in August and September at Maple City Chapel in Goshen and one in Milford. Pulled pork sandwiches, quarter-pound hamburgers and pepper nuts were among some of the ready-to-eat options. Folks could also purchase bulk meat and cheese items which are always popular at the Michiana sale.
In Kidron, 480 barbecue chicken dinners were sold along with 60 pies and ice cream through a drive-through event that coincided with a preview of quilts and other auction items.
Of course the main events for any relief sale are the auctions featuring beautiful quilts, handmade wood pieces and other items. Both sales moved their auctions solely online, which allowed for more participation from dispersed bidders through week-long auctions open to the public.
The Michiana sale coordinated a live webcast auction of “100 Quilts for 100 Years” which was broadcast from College Mennonite Church in Goshen with auctioneers and tech folks working together to produce the real-time auction. "The work that 100 plus volunteers usually do to make the quilt auction happen at the sale at the fairgrounds was adapted and concentrated into work by eight people, plus the technology and event coordinators,” explained Helen Glick, quilt auction coordinator for the Michiana sale. This included many hours spent taking and editing photos, collecting information and uploading data into the auction site.
In Ohio, several quilts were promoted ahead of the online auction with the “buy it now” feature for folks who wanted to get a jump on the auction and secure a quilt. Seven quilts were sold through this format bringing in over five thousand dollars before the auction even began. Social media campaigns highlighting auction items also appealed to bidders from across the country.
In fact the strictly online format helped pulled in new audiences for both sales that may not have participated otherwise. “I heard a younger person say that although it’s intimidating to get a bidder number and then to bid in an in-person auction, it’s a practiced skill to enter a credit card and click a button,” said Glick.
According to Jep Hostetler, chair of the Michiana online auction, people were very generous. “We collected items from around the Midwest, but the best items were experiences that we sold like bird watching tours and spring May flower identification and visit to a worm farm,” he said.
Initial reports from Michiana saw over $121,000 in gross income from the online auction and donations. In Ohio, the preliminary total for the online auction was $76,000 with an additional $8,700 for the drive-through food event. Final numbers are still being compiled.
While raising funds for MCC was the driving force behind the activities, a sense of community and coming together in a safe way was also a highlight for many.
“With a 55-year history of the Ohio Mennonite Relief Sale, it was important to adapt the sale to give persons the opportunity to continue being part of the mission of MCC,” said Paul Bontrager, volunteer board member.
Thanks to a sponsorship from Everence, the Ohio sale offered several musical concerts throughout the weekend. A Girl Named Tom and Honeytown performed outdoor concerts to a gathering of around 120 supporters who enjoyed the music while following local public health guidelines, including physical distancing.
Attendees listened from their own chairs under the tent or in the parking lot while a few folks listened from the comfort of their cars and others watched the livestream on Facebook. On Sunday afternoon, John Schmid gave a virtual Facebook live concert with folks tuning in from a wide geographical area, and thousands have viewed the video replay since.
“A highlight was that we were able to have a couple in-person, physically distanced events,” said Latulippe. “We were able to promote the online auction and get people together in a different format than normal. It was a way to give people a taste of the relief sale.”
Both sales also offered a virtual Run for Relief where participants could run on their own and submit their times and photos.
Ten Thousand Villages in Goshen and World Crafts in Kidron both donated 10 percent of sales from their global fair trade stores on certain dates in conjunction with the relief sales.
My Coins Count remains a vital part of both relief sales’ fundraising efforts. Churches and individuals were encouraged to count their own change and donate online. Many congregations celebrated “Relief Sale Sunday” on September 27 in the Michiana area to remember MCC’s centennial and support the work of MCC.
Individual churches also came up with their own fundraisers, such as Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church who partnered with two local Goshen businesses, The Nut Shoppe and Shirley’s Popcorn, to raise funds through online orders and drive-thru pickups later this fall.
The Ohio sale is continuing to try new ideas as they are preparing to launch a brand new e-commerce store to sell small items throughout the year, including fabric, books and craft items.
MCC is grateful for the many dedicated volunteers who are committed to raising support for MCC and taking on the unique challenges this year has presented. “It’s satisfying and fun work,” said Hostetler. “I'm 81 years old and choose no longer to go to places like Syria or other places in the troubled world where MCC is so effective. All the members of our team believe we need to do what we can, where we are, to promote peace and justice in this world and supporting MCC is one good way to do it.”
“I am a firm believer in the mission of MCC,” said Glick. “Having served five years abroad, I’ve seen the difference that MCC programs and collaborating with partners makes in people’s lives. With the increased needs due to COVID-19 and continuing violence, MCC’s involvement is more crucial than ever.”
