With summer in full swing, May has come and gone and is now little more than a distant memory. This year many of us felt the absence of a joyful trip to the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Somehow ushering in the summer didn’t feel quite right without tea balls, strawberry pies, and spring rolls – yet here we are, almost halfway through summer.
As global events have continued to evolve, the NHMRS planning committee has continued to discuss and plan how we can continue to support the impactful work of Mennonite Central Committee at this critical time while adhering to restrictions on gatherings and maintaining physical distance.
We had hoped that by the fall, many restrictions would be lifted and we’d be able to gather for a scaled down auction and sale. After much discussion, we’ve come to the conclusion that this will not be possible or prudent.
However, encouraged by the success of the Spring into Auction online quilt sale (held on May 30th, the original day of the sale), during which participants helped raise over $85,000 for MCC (not to mention the record-breaking virtual Run for Relief), we’ve decided to hold another online auction on October 17th. The fall online auction will have additional quilts, 2 restored tractors, as well as a number of other valuable items.
“But what about the food?” you may be asking. We are hoping to provide various food offerings for pre-order and pick-up at designated locations and times.
While we’ll have an update with more details for you soon, please know how grateful we are for your ongoing support of the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. We have been very encouraged as we learn about groups who would have attended or volunteered at the sale, but instead have found additional opportunities to raise money for MCC. Thank you for joining us on this journey of finding new ways to support MCC during a global pandemic.