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In so much as you did it to one of the least of these My
Brethren, you did to me. Matthew 25:40 The first auction, in 1984, was planned by Antioch Church and raised $10,201. After this first auction, other area Churches of the Brethren were invited to join in planning the annual event. At the present time, there are nine other churches involved, including Bethany, Bethlehem, Boones Mill, Brick, Cedar Bluff, Monte Vista, Ninth Street, Oak Grove and Smith Mountain Lake. A tremendous amount of time and effort goes into the planning and organizing of this project. Beginning each year, a committee meets together several times to plan and organize this event. Each church involved then urges all members to participate through the many opportunities available such as making crafts to be sold, raising produce, baking, providing services, or donating animals to be sold or to be made into hamburger and sausage. Children are encouraged to donate good used toys they no longer use. Plans are made for hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, ice cream, etc. to be prepared and sold. People are urged to look around to see if they have antiques they would like to donate. Some businesses donate items for sale. Advertising and promoting the sale plays a prominent part of the preparations. Other events have become a part of the project each year. The hunger walk and bike ride involve pledges or donations being made for miles walked or biked. Many walkers, bikers and sponsors have participated in contributing to the success of the fundraising. The Mustard Seed project has also been a part of the auction in recent years. For the Mustard Seed, $20 bills are given out to those who accept the challenge to find projects to make that money grow, bringing it back to the auction at the end of the year. One the day before the auction, most of the tents are put in place. Workers are on the scene as early as 6:00 AM on the day of the auction to finish putting the tents up, carry tables and chairs, and start food preparation. The auctioneers, who donate their services, arrive early to get everything in order. Those in charge of each area are there with their helpers to place the donated items in their proper place. These donations range from quilts, that take the work of many hands, to the smallest items made by the Bible School and Activity Hour children. Some of the children have their own projects that they bring to share. Many hours of time and labor go into the making of all these beautiful items that are presented each year. From the largest to the smallest item, everyone that brings something to the sale is an important part of this effort to help those in need. Those who come to buy and pay so generously for those items are also a very important part of the auction. After the buyers have taken their purchases and gone home, the workers immediately begin to returning all the equipment and taking the tents down. For the workers, it has been a long day and much work has been done, but there is a feeling of joy and satisfaction that another sale has helped others to have a better life. Over a period of 25 years, well over $750,000 has been raised to help those in need. Most of this money has gone to Heifer Project International, with smaller amounts going to the Global Food Crisis Fund, to areas of need in the United States, and to local food pantries such as the RAM House. |
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