Relief sales

are unique celebrations organized by Mennonites across the United States

and Canada to raise funds for needy people around the world. The sales

benefit Mennonite Central Committee, a cooperative relief and service

agency of 25 North American church groups, founded in 1920.

MCC's worldwide

efforts include refugee and famine relief, agricultural and community

development, education, health care, and peace concerns. The global conflicts

of the past year have prompted organizers of this year's Peach Cobbler

Sale to focus on refugee relief projects, especially in Afghanistan.

Mary Maynard,

co-chair of the organizing effort for all three of the annual sales, has

been pleased with the enthusiastic participation of regional Mennonites.

Like many of the Mennonites who have their roots in the midwestern or

eastern United States, she sees the Peach Cobbler Sale as a time to connect

with old and new friends.

"It's

been a great event on several levels," she said. "As a quilter,

I enjoy seeing what the other quilters are creating. It's an event that

brings lots of old connections together again. The food is great, and

the auction is just fun."

Maynard also

noted that while some beautiful quilts have sold for bargain prices in

previous years, the gradual discovery by the public of the event has started

moving some of the bids to market values. "That's fine," she

said. "MCC makes good use of the proceeds."