ATTN: Relief Sale Supporters the Distress Supper
has been rescheduled to Thursday Feb. 11^th due to weather

52^nd ILLINOIS MENNONITE RELIEF SALE

MARCH 19-20, 2010

INTERSTATE CENTER, BLOOMINGTON

The 2010 Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Board invites everyone to the 52nd Annual Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale, scheduled for March 19-20, 2010, at Interstate Center, Bloomington, Illinois. Our 2010 theme is "New Hope in the Name of Christ."

In preparation for our 52nd Sale all pastors of churches involved, MCC Promoters, booth chairpersons, and other Sale personnel are invited to our 2010 Distress Supper/Corporation meeting on Tuesday, February 9, at 6:00 P.M. in the Congerville Rock Creek Church. At this time updated Sale information is shared, supply boxes are distributed, MCC facts are presented, etc.

We have a new challenge this year as Interstate Center in Bloomington was purchased by Birkey Implement on December 1, 2009. Presently, we have a Location Committee comprised of our Relief Sale chairpersons and several other Sale Board members who are researching future Sale locations. We welcome suggestions and will deeply appreciate your prayers concerning this matter as well as please continue to pray for MCC, the recipients of the funds, and all of our Illinois Relief Sale Board members and all Sale activities.

At this time the Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale Board wishes to express special thanks to God and to all those attending, participating, and dedicating so much time, talent, and money to this church ministry and outreach. Because of God's blessings and the hard work of many, our 2009 Relief Sale was very successful, netting approximately $200,000.00.

Each year eighty percent of the net proceeds from this family fare event are channeled through Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a national relief and service agency located in Akron, Pennsylvania. Now MCC has over 1,000 volunteers working and/or financially supporting 65 countries of the world.

Twenty percent of the Illinois Relief Sale net income is used locally by grassroots volunteers to provide food for the needy in Central Illinois. Some of the agencies receiving funds are the Salvation Army in Peoria, Bloomington, Pekin, & Pontiac, the Midwest Food Bank in both Peoria & Bloomington, Peoria Rescue Mission, Bloomington Center of Hope, many food pantries, and others.

Again, please remember to mark your calendar for the 52nd Illinois Mennonite Relief Sale scheduled for March 19-20, 2010, at Interstate Center. Please join us in reaching out with God's love to touch the hungry and homeless during these challenging economic times. We deeply appreciate everyone's willingness to help care for the less fortunate so, together, we can make a significant impact on needy families in our world.

Again thank you so much and may God richly bless you!

In His Service,


Donald F. Roth, Sale Co-Chairman