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Each year congregations collect coins in the months preceding the festival, showing how small change can make a big difference for people around the world. It’s a great way to involve children in the festival.

For our 30th sale, congregations and families are invited to participate in a special Penny Power Challenge that supports Mennonite Central Committee food projects. During the 30 days of September, your group can choose a goal and raise funds for:

• 30 food shipments of MCC canned meat, dried soup mix, and dried apples to North Korea ($70 per shipment, total goal of $2,100)
• 30 units of seeds for farmers in Nicaragua ($43 per unit, total goal of $1,290
• 30 pairs of rabbits for Palestinian farmers ($24 per pair, total goal of $720)
  

Penny Power resources have been sent to each congregation, and more can be ordered or downloaded from MCC by clicking HERE.

 Here’s a cheer for all our wonderful quilters, whose work stars in the festival auction. Special thanks to those who attended the quilting bees this summer, working on a king-sized quilt pieced at the West Coast MCC Center. Work on the quilt continued at Hope Village in Canby, where Frank Howard worked out that it contains approximately 65,000 stitches!

Please take your completed quilt to one of the pick-up locations by the date noted so it can be lovingly displayed at the Oct. 12 auction:

Portland area: Monday, Sept. 16, Portland Mennonite Church (503-234-0559); contact Alice Hill (503-771-2421) or Joan Imhoff (503-288-4354).

Hubbard, Canby, Woodburn area: Tuesday, Sept. 24, Zion Mennonite Church (503-651-2274); contact Louise Gingerich (503-651-2816).

Salem area: Wednesday, Sept. 25, Salem Mennonite Church (503-390-2715); contact Phyllis Lind (503-304-3860), Mary Boshart (541-928-8218), or Karen Graber
(503-623-3197).

Sweet Home, Lebanon, Albany, Corvallis area: Thursday, Sept. 26, Albany Mennonite Church (503-926-1443). Contact Tina Kauffman (541-926-5046).

This summer kids at Portland Mennonite Church worked on two fun projects for the festival. 

THE PEACE KIDS HONEY PROJECT
John Hess Yoder had the idea of having kids help him with his honey harvest this year and donating the money to Mennonite Central Committee. Over the course of one summer evening, a group of six children ages 5 to 10 (with several parents) helped to cut open the comb, put it into the extractor, fill jars, and put on labels – yielding about 100 pounds of honey.

“It was a big sticky mess, and the kids loved it,” said Curt Weaver, who helped to coordinate the project.

The children sold the honey at church, and a few jars were reserved to take to the festival. Get ready to bid!

MCC ART BAGS
This year a supply of sturdy, decorated shopping bags will be available, thanks to participants in Portland’s Peace School.

The children were given art supplies and free rein to express their creativity. Heather Gingrich, who is coordinating children’s activities at the festival this year, also was at hand to talk with the kids informally about MCC and how their efforts would help other kids around the world.

Thanks to everyone who participated in these fun summer projects!

News is coming in of some terrific donations to this year’s auction. Click here to see photos and read descriptions.

The generous gift you make to the auction will help MCC feed the hungry, promote peace, and help develop sustainable communities around the world. It’s a great way to make a real difference! Ideal auction items may include antiques and collectibles, event tickets, vacation packages, vehicles, hand crafted wood items as well as power tools,

furniture, or most anything in new or excellent condition. If you don't have anything to give but would like to participate, consider buying something that you like or enjoy to donate. Or get together with friends or family to make a donation together.  Storage is available prior to the festival.

Please consider what you would like to give and notify auction director Tim Steiner (503-381-6436; steinertm@comcast.net) your donation can be publicized and attract more bidders to the festival. Thank you!

Portland Mennonite Church used their PEACE SCHOOL this year to make bags for the Festival. Below is a Video that was made by four 4th and 5th graders who attempted to capture the essence of the day. We think they did a great job and are excited to see kids catch a vision for the Festival and what it means.

Wow! Friends of the Festival for World Relief contributed an amazing $5,860 at the Aug. 4 barbecue in North Albany. That's the most we can remember ever raising in one day to help cover festival expenses. Thanks so much to our generous donors, including those who donated the food. Thanks also to our wonderful hosts, Marolyn and Harley Brenneman, and the cadre of volunteers who cooked and served the meal.