Small town, big heart

The small town of Black Creek, British Columbia, showed its generosity with a sale for Ukraine relief, organized by United Mennonite Church, on May 29. The town has a population of just over 9,000 and is located on Vancouver Island, far from all of Mennonite Church B.C.’s other congregations.

The Black Creek congregation has been hosting a fundraising sale for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) for about 20 years. With the war in Ukraine much in the news this year, organizers decided to designate proceeds for MCC’s relief efforts in that country.

In previous years, the event has been mostly a rummage and plant sale. This year, more events were added. The day’s offerings included henna hand drawings, a bake sale, a sale of a handmade quilt and a painting, a Kids’ Zone with pony rides and face painting. Food offerings of hot dogs and perogies sold out, and 90 kilograms of farmers sausage were also sold.

“We have a great little community; they volunteer,” said Judy McCulloch, one of the organizers. McCulloch says that this year’s sale grew as people heard that proceeds were helping people in Ukraine, and many in the community volunteered to help, even if not affiliated with United Mennonite or the Mennonite Brethren church in town.

McCulloch says that a smaller sale event has some advantages not possible at larger MCC fundraising sales: “We try to go green and serve our food on [china] dishes, not paper plates. We sold coffee for $2 in thrift store cups that people could either take home or re-donate.”

After expenses were covered, it is estimated that $11,000 will be sent to MCC for Ukraine relief.

Do you have a story idea about Mennonites in B.C.? Send it to Amy Rinner Waddell at bc@canadianmennonite.org.