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Several Old Order Mennonite women in Plain Dress walking past a Log Cabin quilt at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française
À La Main,  Food & Travel,  Quilt

A Quilt Community

The last weekend of May is a special time in south-western Ontario. On this weekend for each of the past 52 years, a small community has come together to host a unique charitable event that benefits the less fortunate around the world in a big way (to the tune of $14,000,000 since 1967). It is the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. The heart of the Sale is a quilt auction featuring handmade quilts donated by quilt-makers from around Ontario and beyond. But this Sale is so much more than that.A 100-patch quilt block at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française A bird quilt block at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française A flower quilt block at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

Supported by local businesses and churches, as well as more than 2000 volunteers, this is truly a community event. That is one of the reasons why I enjoy attending it so much. The volunteer spirit is evident throughout the arena and fairgrounds where the Sale is held. Here you will find senior white-gloved men folding quilts to prepare them for auction, young Old Order Mennonite women in Plain Dress displaying the quilts on the auction stage, and community members of all ages preparing and selling an abundance of delicious types of food.Two men in white gloves folding a quilt at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française Several Old Order Mennonite women in Plain Dress folding a quilt at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaiseVolunteers making doughnuts at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

So I happily made the hour-and-a-half drive from Toronto to New Hamburg, buoyed further by the tree-lined fields of freshly cut hay and newly planted crops that appeared in the rural countryside as I approached the community of 13,500. Arriving at the fairgrounds, I was guided to a parking spot by a series of smiling gentlemen, some making a bit of a dance out of their directional gesturing. It certainly broadened the smile on my face. At 9:30 in the morning the fairgrounds were already filled with people happily browsing and eating among the colourfully striped plant and food tents. I met up with the friend that I had planned to spend the day with and together we headed into the arena where the quilt auction was already underway. Our first priority though was to purchase a freshly made strawberry pie to avoid disappointment if they sold out early (a trick learned from previous visits).  With pie box successfully in hand, we then strolled through the rows of quilts of all shapes, patterns and sizes that were on display.Quilts on display prior to being auctioned off at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaisePhoto of one of the quilts to be auctioned at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

It is here that one quickly realizes that the sale is operated with a clock-work precision. Each quilt has been photographed, catalogued and hung for display, safely covered in plastic to prevent soiling. Quilts are then removed and folded as their turn to be auctioned approaches. On stage is a rotating two-sided display frame upon which the quilts are placed for bidding. As the quilt facing the audience is auctioned, the one on the back of the frame, which has just been sold, is quickly replaced with another.Quilt being auctioned at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaiseOld Order Mennonite women wearing prayer veils at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaiseStrawberry pie at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

The auctioneers, which change every half hour, act quickly to keep things flowing. Each one has their own unique style. I love the sound of their auctioneer’s patter and the witty lines they come up with to encourage bidders along: “There are no friends at an auction”, “One more bid won’t hurt you” and “You’re not going to give up now!” were just a few that I heard this day as we enjoyed our strawberry pie.Man selling pies at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaiseSteam-powered ice cream maker at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille FrançaiseVolunteer making kettle corn at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

After watching the bidding, we headed outside with a special goal in mind: to get our hands on some of the wonderful home-made honey-dipped doughnuts that were available for sale. Along the way we passed several other home-made treats including more pies, ice cream and kettle corn. But for me, it’s the doughnuts that reign supreme. They are the closest thing I have ever tasted to my mother’s home-made doughnuts and one bite immediately takes me back to my childhood. I’m obviously not the only person who loves them. The team started preparing them at midnight the night before and by the time we bought ours at around noon, they had already sold over 600 dozen! Honey-dipped doughnut overlooking New Hamburg fairgrounds: L'Abeille Française

New quilts are not the only type available for purchase here. Another tent offered a number of previously-loved quilts as well as quilt blocks ready to be assembled. They were so lovely and the prices so reasonable that it was difficult to leave them there. But my existing collection of both convinced me to do so. So, with an apple-raspberry pie in hand and a honey-dipped doughnut for the road, I headed back to the city, my mind full of wonderful quilt and community visions.Antique quilts for sale at Mennonite Relief Sale: L'Abeille Française

If you’d like to see more gorgeous quilts, check out my sister Marie’s beautiful blog, Quilt Bee. Yes, like me, she has an affinity for bees too! And, if you’re looking for a great summertime Toronto day trip, check out my post The Lavender Labyrinth of Laveanne.

Mennonite Relief Sale, Fairgrounds & Arena, 251 Jacob Street, New Hamburg, Ontario


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