wfn.org | Newsline: Brethren Disaster Relief Auction raises $425,000

["COBNews Newsline" <cobnews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service -- Oct. 9, 2008
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director
800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org

BRETHREN DISASTER RELIEF AUCTION RAISES $425,000

Oct. 9, 2008 -- The annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction in Lebanon,
Pa., ended Saturday evening with more than $425,000 added to coffers
to aid victims of natural and man-made disasters in the US and abroad,
according to a release from Duane Ness, chairman, and Jay M. Witman,
co-founder of the Executive Board of the auction. The auction is a joint
effort of the Church of the Brethren's Atlantic Northeast District and
Southern Pennsylvania District.

The 32nd annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction was held at the
Lebanon Expo and Fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday. One of the
nation's largest relief auctions, it is run entirely by volunteers and
attracts approximately 7,000 people.

A lamb named "Midnight" was donated by students of New Covenant
Christian School in Lebanon, who pooled their money to buy the animal.
It brought $1,075.

The Woodland Butterfly quilt donated by Nancy Erwin and Joanne Hess
and quilted by the Atlantic Northeast District women sold for $8,000 and
was gifted back to the auction. It sold for a second time for $2,000. A
Golden Needles quilt was sold three times netting $2,950. Quilts brought
a total of $43,755.

An original painting "Grace and Forgiveness" by Elsie Beiler
commemorating the West Nickel Mines Amish school tragedy of two
years ago brought $8,300. Olen Landes also donated a child's youth
spring wooden wagon which brought $7,500.

Among the other items that were sold were 60 head of heifers, which
brought $102,667. Donated theme baskets brought a total of $13,750. A
1999 Buick brought $3,000, and a maple tree sold for $1,300. Baked
goods, cakes, and pies brought $17,000, and the Farmers Market items
brought $15,000. Food sales totaled $36,000. The general auction
brought $32,474.

In addition, a check for $12,900 was presented at the auction from the
Mechanics Grove Golf Tournament.

During the event, 12,000 individual kits were assembled consisting of
school supplies to be distributed to school children throughout the world.

A follow up event, an afternoon of favorite hymns, will be held at the
Sight & Sound Millennium Theatre in Strasburg, Pa., on Sunday, Oct.
19, at 2:45 p.m. The hymn sing will provide additional funds for
Brethren disaster relief.

Go to www.brethrenauction.org for more information.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to
continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its
faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and
Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches.  It
celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts more than 125,000
members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and
sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and
India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
>Director of News Services
>Church of the Brethren
>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120
>800-323-8039 ext. 260
>cobnews@brethren.org

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