In 1920, the Russian Mennonites’ world was in upheaval. Civil war had been raging for three years, creating political and social chaos and leaving the country’s Mennonites impoverished, hungry and fearing for their future. Their brethren in North America responded by founding Mennonite Central Committee, putting aside their sectarianism to come together to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
Hurricane Hanna brought added misery to a community devastated by COVID-19 on July 25 when it hit South Texas and Mexico. For New Life Christian Center in San Benito, Texas, the damage served as inspiration to keep praying and assisting neighbors.
Nine years of war in Syria have given 14-year-old Kareem Haddad (name changed to protect his security) a lot of reasons to want to study medicine, especially neurology. When Kareem was in second grade, his father, a pharmacist, was killed by shrapnel on the streets of Jaramana.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the 54th annual Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale, scheduled for Oct. 2-3, is determined to go on. Last fall’s sale raised nearly $400,000 for Mennonite Central Committee.
Refugees and other displaced people living in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria already were struggling to subsist before COVID-19 became a health and economic threat.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Mathare settlement isn’t an easy place to stay clean and healthy on an ordinary day, so preventing COVID-19 from infecting people in a crowded slum of Nairobi is a challenge.
Each year, relief sales raise more than $4.5 million for Mennonite Central Committee’s work around the world. They are made possible by the work of hundreds of volunteers. Some, like Jerry Toews of Goessel, Kan., end up donating not just a few hours but days or weeks of time a year to make these efforts a success.
Leadership of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. will transition in October as J Ron Byler retires as executive director and current associate executive director Ann Graber Hershberger moves into the role.
NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — COVID-19 stopped the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale’s main event, but it couldn’t stop people from coming together to support Mennonite Central Committee. They’ve already raised almost as much as last year.
