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 The 2019 theme, “Courageous Compassion in Christ,”
expresses the biblical basis for the Illinois Sale. When following
Jesus’ example, we contribute to the relief of human need and
suffering by giving generously of ourselves and our resources.
Sale preparation involves hundreds of volunteers from more than 30
Illinois churches. On Friday evening, March 15, starting at 4:30
P.M., barbecued chicken/fish fillet dinners will be served. Tickets
are $10 for ½ chicken or 2 fish fillets and $8 for a smaller meal of
¼ chicken or 1 fish fillet. The perfect desserts to be enjoyed are
delicious homemade fruit pies.
On Saturday, March 16, sale-goers may enjoy all-you-can-eat pancakes
and deliciously grilled sausage. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4
for children. Many sale workers will be seasoning, grinding, and
stuffing several thousand pounds of whole-hog sausage for this
breakfast as well as providing link and bulk freshly prepared
sausage to be sold at the Butcher Shoppe. Other meat specialties
sold include honey-smoked turkey, butterfly pork chops, beef strips,
and barbecue jerky.
On both Friday night and Saturday, sale-goers may savor pork chop or
rib-eye sandwiches as well as barbecues and hot dogs.
Dutch Market special treats offered include homemade pies, breads,
pashka, tea rings, candies, cakes, and cookies. Additional favorites
for sale are homemade noodles and many Pennsylvania Dutch treats
such as chocolate dipped pretzels, pfeffernuesse, divinity, fudge,
mints, and peanut brittle, along with unique jams and jellies.
A potpourri of goodies to enjoy while raising funds to help the
needy include: curly fries, freshly prepared donuts, homemade ice
cream, mennonice, nachos & soft pretzels, and popcorn & cider.
Coffee lovers are invited to come and enjoy freshly brewed Café
Latte, Mochachino, Cappuccino, French Vanilla, and also hot
chocolate.
The auction will begin at 6:30 P.M. on Friday evening, March 15,
with the quilt auction starting at 7:45 P.M. The Grand Auction on
Saturday, March 16, begins at 8:30 A.M. with the crying of quilts
from 9:00 to 9:45 A.M. and again at 11:00 to 11:45 A.M. Other items
to be cried at auction will be toys, games, outdoor items, tools,
Amish furniture, pictures, antique items, and much more. Special
Arthur furniture items to be sold this year are a large dining room
set, three-piece bedroom suite, lounge chair, large rocker, and some
lawn furniture.
Each year the sale is blessed with the donation of
approximately 100 beautiful quilts and wall hangings. The Sale Board
expresses special thanks to the many individuals who have dedicated
their time of hundreds of hours to create spectacular quilts. Each
year the Sale Board sponsors an outstanding masterpiece direct from
Pennsylvania. This year’s beautiful queen quilt is an original
“Bargello Flame.” It is finely stitched by one Amish lady and is
pieced in many colors of lovely shades of purple. Each year there is
a variety of quilts as some are pieced or embroidered or appliqued
with unique patterns and creative designs. [to top of second
column] |
Each year sale-goers are inspired by the unusual overseas craft
items presented by the Ten Thousand Villages booth. Here shoppers find leather
goods, linens, jewelry, baskets, unique musical instruments, and much more.
The Ten Thousand Villages program is a specialty created by Mennonite Central
Committee of Akron, PA. This project involves purchasing crafts from developing
world artisans, and then it makes them available for sale in United States and
Canada. It is a special program that provides jobs and income for those in need
as well as it gives sale customers beautiful, unusual items from around the
world.
Once again this year eighty percent of the Illinois Sale net proceeds is
channeled to Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Akron, Pennsylvania. This is
an international world relief agency in 57 countries of the world. This year MCC
is celebrating 99 years (1920-2019) in a world-wide ministry of Anabaptist
churches.
Presently, MCC has 1,133 missionaries and service workers assisting the needy in
America and around the world. A purpose of MCC is to proclaim good news by
providing food assistance for thousands of families in situations of natural
disasters, conflict, oppression, and chronic hunger.
According to the “Annual Report 2018 for MCC in the United States,” MCC workers
accomplished much last year including: 1) improving the water source in 10,152
households; 2) providing emergency food assistance to 256,472 households; 3)
sending 63,841 comforters to the needy in 13 countries; 4) providing 24,530
relief kits for families facing disaster; 5) providing 69,375 hygiene kits for
the needy; 6) helping 92,482 people with medical problems; 7) planting 4,896
gardens and teaching growing techniques; 8) providing 774,069 pounds of canned
meat for the hungry; 9) helping 51,217 students participate in MCC-supported
educational programs; and 10) giving 223,154 deprived individuals additional
emergency food assistance.
One part of raising money for MCC is the Relief Sale Program. Annually there are
30 sales held in America and 10 in Canada. The annual income from all of these
sales totals nearly $5,000,000.00.
Sixty-one years ago the first Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale was founded by John
Roth of First Mennonite Church of Morton, Illinois. It was held March 21, 1959,
in the Congerville Angus Barn. Because this location became too crowded, the
Sale Board relocated in Peoria’s Exposition Gardens from 1966-1982. Needing
still more space, the next home of the Relief Sale was the Peoria Civic Center
from 1983-1997. Then it was in 1998 that the location changed to Bloomington
Interstate Center due to the scheduling of a basketball tournament in the Civic
Center.
The net total for the past 60 Illinois Sales is over eight million dollars. Each
year eighty percent of the net is channeled through MCC. For the past
thirty-five years twenty percent of the net has been used locally to provide
food assistance in central Illinois. This now totals over $1,350,000.00.
The 2019 Relief Sale Board sincerely thanks God for His guidance and blessings
during our past 60 sales and to God all glory is given. Also special thanks to
all the volunteers who have helped and all who have attended and supported the
Illinois Sale. Again this year everyone is cordially invited to the 61st
Illinois Relief Sale on March 15-16. Admission and parking are free.
For more information please contact Mrs. Don (Ruthie) Roth at 309-266-7704 or
Jess Slager at 309-253-3838 or www.ilreliefsale.org.
[Mrs. Don (Ruthie) Roth, Relief Sale
Executive Secretary] |
