March 1, 2010 issue
‘Bring something, buy something’ for Haiti
By Heidi Martin For Mennonite Weekly ReviewPage:
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LEOLA, Pa. — Shortly after the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, Benuel Fisher walked past a Haitian church in New Holland and saw the pastor posting signs about the tragedy.
Auctioneers take bids at the Leola, Pa., auction for Christian Aid Ministries’ programs in Haiti. — Photo by Heidi Martin
“I knew the whole community wanted to help, but a lot of people don’t know how to help,” Fisher said.
As an auctioneer, he was used to holding benefits in his Amish community for needs such as a hospital bill. He had the idea to have an auction for Haiti relief.
The Feb. 16 event raised $150,000 to $160,000 for Christian Aid Ministries, an organization of conservative Anabaptists headquartered in Berlin, Ohio, that distributes material aid and Christian literature.
The auction grew from Fisher’s idea to include a larger group.
“This is a broad-based community effort from the most conser-vative to the most liberal of churches,” he said.
“The whole goal behind the action is to give everybody in the community that has a longing to help with this an opportunity to participate in one way or another — whether in a large way or small way.”
Jake King volunteered the use of a 25,000-square-foot warehouse, which holds seating for 1,000 people and several tables for dining. John Glick, who organizes the food sales at the annual auction for Hospice of Lancaster County, agreed to organize the Haiti auction’s food sales.
Nelson Sensenig, owner of Eagle Building Solutions in New Holland, donated his specialty in windows, siding, doors and Steel Tech homes. Using the technology offered by his company, Sensenig designed a 20-by-10-foot home for Haitian families. With a steel frame and metal siding, the homes are termite-proof and able to survive winds up to 120 mph.
Certificates of various dollar amounts were sold at the auction to ship pre-punched materials and construct the homes in Haiti.
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