The Virginia Mennonite Relief sale was held on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, just as Hurricane Ian was bearing down on the state. It was an extremely rainy and largely indoor event as a result. Over 10,000 people were estimated to attend over the weekend this year. Spread among a number of small buildings at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, highlights included the annual auction, the bake sale, the Friday evening barbeque and the Saturday morning breakfast.
A number of EMU students attended throughout the day, enduring the heavy wind and downpouring rain to hang out, buy large amounts of baked goods and doughnuts, and experience Mennonite community. Junior Caleb Stoltzfus said about the sale, “It was fun to go get good food and walk around. I enjoyed being able to see all sorts of different people that I know.”
Sophomore Levi Myers said he “wasn’t sure how [the Relief Sale] was going to be at first because it was a little rainy and dreary, but I had a lot of fun! There was some great food and a ton of baked goods and all for a great cause. I’d highly recommend going to the relief sale whether you’re Mennonite or not!”
According to the Relief Sale’s preliminary report, $136,643 was raised by the auction, on par with the total raised last year. Both totals are significantly higher than auction totals before the pandemic. “This year’s auction had online bidders from 21 different states and 95 of the 301 items were sold to online bidders. There were 29 items that sold for $1,000 or more.” In total, combining all of the separate fundraisers, this year’s auction raised at least 324 thousand dollars.
Other significant events included the 5K Race for Relief. Over 75 runners participated in running three laps around the fields and parking lots surrounding the fairgrounds.
The fundraiser breakfast was held in the big domed barn building. Options included biscuits and gravy, make your own omelets, and other breakfast foods. By 8 am, long lines nearly stretched out the building and the dozens of tables were all filled with the hungry attendees. At the top of the fairground’s hill, a building housing many tables of baked goods, cast delicious smells out through the grounds.
Sophomore Lleyton Stutzman, who attended with a group of friends, walked away with over $100 of baked goods. “I bought some pies and a big cake to share with the people I live with.”
According to the sale’s “About” page, “The Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale is an annual, all volunteer event that raises money for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). The sale began in 1967 at Paul Wenger’s farm in Augusta County. The event is currently held at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds the first weekend in October.”
