MCC auction reflects host community’s spirit of giving

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A good fit ...

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  • Kurt Johnson
    Kurt Johnson
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The Hamilton County Fairgrounds hosted a global mission Saturday, making the Aurora venue part of a feel-good celebration reaching all the way to war-torn Ukraine.
For more than four decades, the Mennonite Central Committee has conducted its annual relief auction here in Aurora, raising millions of dollars to provide food, medicine and various forms of aid to people in need all around the world. (See related story in this week’s edition.) A global pandemic forced the event online the past two years, but resumed this weekend, bigger and better than ever.
This event draws thousands of people from throughout Nebraska and neighboring states, all connected to a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches working together to share God’s love. It has a strong connection here in Aurora, dating back to the initial auction in 1979, returning every year since then other than the pandemic pause these last two years.
The vibe on the fairgrounds Saturday was something special, with people anxious to share their faith, food, goodwill and resources. And they did, to the tune of nearly $250,000, an unofficial record for the MCC’s Central States event. 
There are always unique items that draw sizable bids at the MCC auction, including loaves of bread sold as a ceremonial kick-start to the event, often for several hundred dollars. This year, a special auction was held featuring eight plates representing the war-torn nation of Ukraine. The plates brought more than $9,000, all of which will go directly to a relief fund earmarked for Ukraine, a highlight of the two-day celebration.
Organizers were thrilled with the record fundraiser, as well as the host community’s hospitality. Other communities have offered to host this massive event, but MCC leaders say they’ve found a permanent home here in Aurora, a tip of the hat to the Hamilton County Ag Society and generous local supporters.
Hamilton County has a strong reputation for charitable giving of its own, thus hosting this event echoes that sentiment, in fact broadening the perspective to a global scale.
Kurt Johnson