The 44th annual Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale is an event to be excited about. This year marks the return of the sausage and onion sandwich, a favorite of the sale's co-chair, Kent Miller.
“The sandwiches took a one-year hiatus,” said Miller. “I am excited they're back.”
There is, however, plenty more to find at the relief sale apart from a good sandwich. Miller has helped put together the event with co-chair John Martes and thousands of local volunteers.
“The Relief Sale is a potpourri of Mennonite ethnicity,” said Miller. “There is international flavor, food and crafts, quilts and auction items.”
The sale will be held at the Elkhart County fairgrounds, kicking off on Friday with a haystack dinner at 5 p.m. Other events include a Ten Thousand Villages craft sale, a performance by a men's chorus and a Fair Trade coffeehouse with live entertainment.
A pancake and sausage breakfast at 7 a.m. will begin Saturday's festivities, followed by the Run for Relief 5K at 8 a.m. and the quilt, antique and children's auctions.
Food booths featuring homemade treats--including apple fritters, kettle corn, haystacks and baked goods--will be available both days.
All proceeds from the relief sale will go to Mennonite Central Committee, the church's national organization that dedicated to relief work around the world.
“The sale is a wonderful place for people to come together to experience a sense of community,” said Miller. “To raise money for a good cause [and] to share of talents and time is a very cool thing.”
The Mennonite relief sale will be held Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to mid-afternoon.
