HILLSBORO, Kan. – On Friday, June 5th, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States Office based in North Newton was presented with an $850,000 donation from the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale (KMRS).
MCC is a global, humanitarian not-for-profit represented by 15 Mennonite, Brethren in Christ, and Amish denominations across North America. Over the years, MCC’s mission has broadened from responding to violence, disease, famine, etc. across the globe to now being directly involved in eradicating the systems that create those crises.
To play our state’s part in funding this work, Mennonite and Anabaptist congregations throughout Kansas come together each April for two days to hold the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale. The sale is held at the State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, KS and is consistently one of the largest events held at the fairgrounds, second only to the State Fair itself, with an estimated two- day attendance of 20,000 people. Through the sale of traditional Mennonite food and fair-trade items, and multiple auctions of hand-made Mennonite crafts and donated vehicles, farm implements, and more, KMRS traditionally raises well in excess of $500,000 each year. The check presented to MCC at Friday evening’s event represents a new high-water mark for the part that local churches play in these global efforts.
KMRS Board Chair Jim Robb, who is concluding 10 years of leadership, commented, “We are thrilled with the generosity that allows us to support the critical work of MCC worldwide. There is also fulfilment and value in seeing so many churches and volunteers coming together to support a cause bigger than ourselves.”
Incoming Board Chair Eric Litwiller added, “The value of the work done by MCC around the world cannot be over-stated. Throughout the year and at the sale itself, thousands of individuals give of their time, talent, and treasure because we recognize the importance of MCC’s mission. To all those who care about the future of our world, we invite you join our efforts without regard to your theology.”
Next year’s Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale will be on April 9 and 10 at the Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. To learn more about the work of MCC and how the money will be utilized go to https://mcc.org.
