Brethren Disaster Relief Auction raises $425,000.

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.

--This report comes from a Brethren Disaster Relief Auction press release. Go to www.brethrenauction.org for more information.

Source: 10/8/2008 Newsline