Oct. 6, 2008 issue
Michiana sale income dips
By Celeste Kennel-Shank Mennonite Weekly ReviewPage:
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GOSHEN, Ind. — The 41st Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale — one of the four largest in North America raising money for Mennonite Central Committee — made slightly less than in previous years.
Evelyn Borntrager of North Goshen (Ind.) Mennonite Church and Roger Kulp of Mount Joy Conservative Mennonite Church, also in Goshen, flip pancakes for the pancake and sausage breakfast. — Photo by Celeste Kennel-Shank/MWR
The first counts of the numbers show the sale, held Sept. 26-27, generated more than $380,000, about $40,000 less than last year, with lower auction sales. However, food sales rose to $225,000, about $70,000 above last year. Though it is difficult to say for sure, the lower overall sales may be caused by the pinch many families are feeling because of job loss and investment devaluing.
David Yoder, chairperson for relief sale board of directors, has heard from local auctioneers that many auctions are making less.
“Especially with the stock market like it has been for the last week or two,” he said, “bidders were bidding a bit more conservatively this year.”
Despite such challenges, some bidders were quite generous, Yoder said, noting one quilt sold for $8,750.
On the other hand, interest in the growing variety of food may have contributed to higher food sales, Yoder said.
“There seems to be a lot of interest in those healthier foods, and international food,” he said.
Booths offered cuisine from different countries along with information about MCC work there. There were tamales for Mexico; egg rolls and fried rice for China; and koshari (lentils, pasta, rice and tomato sauce) for Egypt, among other items.
Jan Gleysteen, a Mennonite historian and artist who has attended the Michiana sale for the past several years, observed that many quilts and comforters weren’t bringing as much money.
Many retired families who are committed to supporting MCC have seen their retirement savings declining, he said.
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