Wednesday, October 23, 2002
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Wednesday, October 23, 2002 |
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Quilt auction, relief sale this weekend Their mothers and fathers taught them how. Their church communities taught them why. Steeped in a heritage of simple rural skills and a tradition of cooperation, Mennonites from across the Southeast have organized the third annual Peach Cobbler Mennonite Quilt Auction and Sale for World Relief. Like long-standing relief sales in the Midwest, the gathering of Mennonites from several states bringing their quilts, handcrafts, baked goods, jams and jellies (and, of course, peach cobblers) has a celebratory atmosphere that is part festival, part reunion. The event is scheduled for Oct. 25-26 at the Kiwanis Complex Exhibition Hall at 939 Goza Road in Fayetteville. Admission is free and the public is welcome. Activities begin Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. with a hymn sing and preview of quilts and other items to be auctioned. The Oct. 26 pancake and sausage breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m., and activities throughout that day include musical performances, quilting demonstrations, children's activities and service projects. On sale will be food, crafts, canned and baked goods, and homemade ice cream. A barbecue lunch with chicken, brunswick stew, and peach cobbler will be available on the grounds. The highlight of the day is the auction at 10:30 a.m. that features hand and machine stitched and pieced quilts (traditional and contemporary), handmade afghans, and comforters, woodcrafts, and other handcrafts. All auctioned items have been created and donated by local quilters and crafters, Mennonites from across the Southeast, and by Amish and Mennonites from across the country. Relief sales are unique celebrations organized by Mennonites across the United States and Canada to raise funds for needy people around the world. The sales benefit Mennonite Central Committee, a cooperative relief and service agency of 25 North American church groups, founded in 1920. MCC's worldwide efforts include refugee and famine relief, agricultural and community development, education, health care, and peace concerns. The global conflicts of the past year have prompted organizers of this year's Peach Cobbler Sale to focus on refugee relief projects, especially in Afghanistan. Mary Maynard, co-chair of the organizing effort for all three of the annual sales, has been pleased with the enthusiastic participation of regional Mennonites. Like many of the Mennonites who have their roots in the midwestern or eastern United States, she sees the Peach Cobbler Sale as a time to connect with old and new friends. "It's been a great event on several levels," she said. "As a quilter, I enjoy seeing what the other quilters are creating. It's an event that brings lots of old connections together again. The food is great, and the auction is just fun." Maynard also noted that while some beautiful quilts have sold for bargain prices in previous years, the gradual discovery by the public of the event has started moving some of the bids to market values. "That's fine," she said. "MCC makes good use of the proceeds."
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