DIDSBURY - The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is hosting its annual Alberta Charity Auction and Sale in Didsbury this year.
The sale is one of over 40 annual relief sales that take place throughout Canada and the United States. The MCC Charity Auction and Sale takes place June 1 and 2 at the Didsbury Memorial Complex.
Rose Klassen, communications and donor relations director, MCC Alberta, said the sale and auction features many unique items and raises money for a great cause.
"A highlight of the sale is an auction of quilts, furniture and other items," said Klassen. "There are activities for children and there is plenty of food, including delicious Mennonite specialties like farmer's sausage, wareneki (perogies), rollkuchen (deep-fried dough eaten with watermelon) or homemade pies."
The history of MCC relief sales goes back almost 100 years to 1920 when an auction was held in Herbert, Sask. Last year, over seven million dollars was raised at the sales, with Albertans contributing over $200,000.
"Donated items turn into funds that provide education, food, health programs, water, peace and justice work, and disaster response in 56 countries around the world," said Klassen.
In Alberta, the sale rotates annually between Didsbury, Coaldale and Sherwood Park. The sale will also feature unique fair trade jewelry from MCC's sister organization Ten Thousand Villages, which features 130 artisan groups in over 38 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
"When you donate, shop or buy food at a relief sale, you support access to clean water through projects like sand dams in Tanzania, food security and sustainable agriculture in Nicaragua, quality education in Bangladesh, and relief from the effects of disaster like the hurricane response in Haiti," said Klassen.
"Funds raised are also used to support local initiatives like refugee resettlement, restorative justice to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society, and peace and conflict resolution training to help young and old live as good neighbours."
The schedule of events for Friday, June 1 includes supper from 5 to 7 p.m., live auction from 7 - 7:30 p.m. with booths open from 5 - 9 p.m. Events on Saturday, June 2 kick off with the pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m., opening and live auctions from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., food booths are open from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., feature items auction goes at 1 p.m., the kids' area is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the silent auction runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, visit mccreliefsale.com.
