Haiti gets relief sale attention

The theme of the 52nd Annual Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale, “New Hope in the Name of Christ,” will help to provide just that for people devastated by the earthquake that rocked Haiti two months ago.

Ruthie Roth, one of more than 1,000 relief sale volunteers and a co-chair with her husband, Don, said a fundraiser called “Penny Power: New Hope for Haiti in the Name of Christ,” is a coin drive that has been going on at about 30 churches participating in the Illinois Relief Sale.

Coin-drive containers will also be available at the relief sale Friday and Saturday at the Interstate Center in Bloomington for those who would like to show their support to the people of Haiti. Activities begin at noon Friday and Saturday at 6 a.m.

Each church received a white container to collect change. On Friday, people from the churches will bring these containers to the relief sale, where the money will be counted and it will be sent to the Mennonite Central Committee.

“From there, the money will go directly to Haiti,” said Roth.

Roth said her husband has left the expectations of this fundraiser to God.

“He says, ‘We’ve left the final goal in His hands,’” she said.

Roth said more than 2,500 people will come out for the barbecue chicken and catfish filet dinners beginning at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Fruit pies and ice cream are available for dessert.

The King Family String Band of Monticello will serenade diners Friday evening. They performed at the 2010 International Bluegrass Band competition in Nashville, Tenn., and were named one of the top 15 bluegrass bands in America.

Friday’s auction begins at 7 p.m., which is also when the Pennsylvania Dutch Market, Butcher Shoppe and 20 booth areas will be open for business.

Goodies available at the Dutch Market include fresh strawberry, apple, gooseberry, cherry, peach, mincemeat, apricot, raisin and traditional shoo-fly pies; loaves of various types of bread; carrot cakes; candies; apple butter; honey; jams; summer sausage and all kinds of cheese.

At the Butcher Shoppe, whole-hog sausage, hams, ribs and sliced turkey breasts will be featured.

The annual all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast begins at 6 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers will serve until noon. Everything for the meal is donated, so 100 percent of the proceeds will go to relief.

Booths will reopen at 7 a.m. Saturday morning. They will have homemade ice cream, popcorn, cider, natural foods, art, needlework, baby items, flowers, books, children’s toys and hundreds of dozens of donuts.

The Grand Auction begins at 9 a.m. Saturday and will feature a variety of unique quilts. Types of quilts to be auctioned this year include appliquéed, embroidered, patchwork and cross-stitched. Comforters will be sold at a separate booth.

“Again for the 11th year, we’re really excited about the brand new silver 2009 Chevrolet Malibu that was donated by Sam Leman’s Automotive Group,” Roth said.

Other items up for auction this year include a Stihl 14-inch chain saw, a Lawnboy mower, gas grill, oak child’s table and chairs, Terry Redlin paintings and a certificate for seven nights at Buffalo Lodge in Keystone, Colo.

Northwoods Community Church of Peoria will present a puppet show Saturday for the children. Also available for the little ones will be the children’s auction, face painting and Discovery Toys.

“Ten Thousand Villages,” a program of MCC that provides a fair income to third-world people by selling their crafts and telling their stories, will present a booth area. Items available at these booths include rugs, purses, brass ware, linens, baskets, toys and jewelry.

For the past 25 years, 20 percent of the net income of the relief sale is used in Central Illinois to provide food for the hungry.

“We have about 40 agencies in Central Illinois that we share funds with, such as the Salvation Army and Midwest Food Bank,” Roth said. “They are used exclusively for food for the needy.”

“Every year, 80 percent of the net proceeds go to MCC, an international relief and service agency,” she said.

Located in Akron, Penn., MCC has more than 1,000 volunteers working in the United States and in 65 countries of the world for the purpose of providing food, clothing, medicine, education and other basic necessities for those in need.

Roth said the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale was started by her husband’s uncle, John Roth, 52 years ago. John was a life-long Mortonite.

During the past 51 years, the relief sales have raised more than $6.8 million.

“We’re just so happy to be a part of something that helps so many needy people,” Roth said.