Artigianati.com

PRESS RELEASE

The last weekend in May is always a big one in the Ontario town of New Hamburg. Nestled between Kitchener and Stratford, it’s the venue of the annual weekend-long Relief Sale, which is highlighted by the auction of handmade quilts, with all proceeds going to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

In the past 43 years, Ontario Mennonite Relief Sale Inc. has raised over $14 million for the MCC, a worldwide charity dedicated to helping people in need.

The quilt auction, which is held in the local old-time hockey arena, features over 200 quilts, each lovingly hand-stitched. There are also lots of edible treats such as the now-famous strawberry pies, international food including spring rolls and fleisch piroschki, and a country pancake and sausage breakfast on Saturday morning. Gardeners flock to the heirloom plant and flower sale, and there’s a raft of special activities for kids including Hooper the Clown, a bouncing castle, magician and children’s auction.

There is a quilt for everyone’s tastes and wallet. Each year, there’s a “feature quilt”, the star of the show, which frequently sells for thousands of dollars. This year’s feature quilt, “Quilt-As -You-Go-Stash-Buster” is designed and quilted by Emily Hunsberger. View it at www.nhmrs.com.

As Ken Seiling, regional chair of the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, puts it, “I have personally attended the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale and know the keen interest and enthusiasm that so many people bring as they visit. The people involved in this event are resourceful and work year round to produce quilts while many others provide the workforce for the sale day itself.”

Also on auction is new furniture and vintage treasures donated many generous people. New sporting equipment and tools are auctioned as well as other items donated by local businesses which include flower arrangements, giftware, gift certificates and much more.

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with a quilt preview and silent and live auctions. Food, crafts and flowers, plants and shrubs are for sale. The events continue Saturday from 7 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. The quilt auction starts at 8:30 a.m., with the feature quilt going on the block around 1 p.m. Admission and parking are free, and the event is wheelchair accessible.

Best of all, 100 per cent of all proceeds from items sold go to the MCC. In 2009, the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale sent $330,000 to the MCC.

For more information, and maps to New Hamburg, visit www.nhmrs.com or call 519-745-8458; 1-800-313-6226.
About the Mennonite Central Committee: The MCC is dedicated to providing peace, justice and dignity for all people. MCC sends resources including people, food and material goods throughout the world to help people in regions suffering from war, natural disasters, poverty and conflict.