In 2020, MCC is celebrating 100 years of service, with many events being held. The first was the Great Winter Warm-up. According to Allison Zacharias, Communications Coordinator of MCC Manitoba, it was a great success across the province.
“While the snow did affect some event locations, several groups did still gather on Saturday to sew and finish comforters,” Zacharias stated. “In total, we had 11 different groups sewing and tying comforters in Manitoba on January 18, including events in Boissevain, Killarney, Winnipeg, Steinbach, Carman, Altona and the Interlake region.”
She said across the province, the Great Winter Warm-ups were all day events, with some groups sewing comforters and others simply tying them up. In Winnipeg, where they completed 210, it was a success despite a cold and snowy day. Zacharias said in the provincial capital, all of the comforters were prepared by volunteers prior to the event, with only the knots being done on Saturday.
Overall, there were 935 comforters completed on the day across the province. Most materials were donated by volunteers.
The effort is not only for Manitoba either. Across North America, they were able to collect 5,000 on January 18. Engbrecht said the Boissevain comforters would make their way to the MCC Canadian Warehouse in Plum Coulee, where they are baled prior to being sent overseas.
Zacharias said the Great Winter Warm-up is the first of its kind for MCC. It fits well into their overseas mission work.
“As a global, non-profit organization, MCC provides relief for communities displaced by disasters and conflict. When families are lacking basic necessities, comforters can be a versatile tool. Used as bed covers, room dividers, carpets, curtains, wraps, mattresses and more, comforters are a gratefully accepted but in demand gift.We’re hosting the Great Winter Warm-up in hopes of collecting more comforters so that we can distribute them to more people in need.”
Last year, they were able to collect and distribute 53,000 comforters across the world. Bosnia/Herzegovina, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, North Korea and others were among the major destinations for these helpful coverings, although some were also distributed in Canada and the United States. Not only are they practical gifts, but also they let people know they are not alone when facing devastating hardship.
The Mennonite Central Committee has its origins in a disaster for its own people. The Mennonite sect had lived and farmed for generations in Imperial Russia, in particular the Ukraine. After the Russian Revolution and during the civil war, these German-speaking Anabaptist communities were persecuted by the Communist authorities. By 1920, they were suffering from oppression, hunger and disease. Their co-religionists in North America decided to help them. After a study group travelled to the area, they held the first meeting of the MCC on September 27, 1920 in Chicago, consolidating Mennonite relief organizations in Canada and the US. Due to turmoil in the region, it took the MCC a long time to get established and get relief to the area. Eventually, the Soviet government allowed them entry and they established soup kitchens, brought over tractors and assisted in many ways. Over time, MCC developed into a large and well-respected organization, which is usually in the forefront of relief efforts. They now work with partners in more than 50 different countries. Part of their mission is to provide food relief, school supplies, hygiene kits and comforters to people displaced by disaster and conflict.
Engbrecht feels their history helps sensitize them to needs in the world.
“In the 1920’s when Mennonites were starving and persecuted in Southern Russia, MCC sent over tractors, clothing and helped feed thousands of Mennonite and Ukrainian people,” Engbrecht explained. “We also have a story of a lady that was sleeping on the streets of Germany on a newspaper and she received an MCC comforter. Today, she works at the MCC Thrift Store as a thank you and to ‘pay it forward’, and that is what we feel we are doing, ‘paying it forward’ as we make these comforters.”
She added that although this is the first major event of this type, the Whitewater Church Ladies Sewing Group has made comforters for several years. From 2007-19, they made 1,194 of them, distributing them to local fire victims, the MCC Relief Sale in Brandon and the local church Mission Sale.
Although the major event was January 18, MCC will be collecting comforters for the rest of the month. Both Plum Coulee and Crystal City had tying events coming this week. The hope is they can reach the 6,500 level overall by January 31, with 1,500 coming from Manitoba.
Engbrecht said they enjoy being able to help.
“It is very rewarding and a day like Saturday illustrates community in working for a common good,” she said. “It brought people together to fellowship around a comforter while they were tying and around a table for a noon meal and coffee.”
Zacharias said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported this year there was an unprecedented 70.8 million displaced persons. This means this type of relief effort will continue to be needed in the future. Seeing communities across the province contribute is very gratifying.
“MCC has supporters from all over the province, and seeing communities like Boissevain get involved in exciting,” Zacharias stated. “It’s great to see people interact with MCC’s work and contribute in a really tangible way by making comforters. We need the participation of compassionate people from all over Manitoba in order to provide relief for people displaced due to disaster and conflict. We are so grateful to those who picked up a needle and thread, despite the blustery weather, to stitch these comforters together.”
“It’s remarkable to see the care put into each handmade comforter. It shows that people in Manitoba do care about their global neighbours. We are so thankful and appreciate every supporter, volunteer and donor.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff