Robin Long, Blooming GlenIn 1999, Eastern Pennsylvania experienced a drought which lasted throughout the summer. Farms were severely affected as their crops were declared a total disaster. The local Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) board approached farmers in the Bucks and Montgomery counties to ask how they could help. The request was for hay to feed livestock. MDS then asked farmers in other areas if they would be willing to donate hay, to which there was a positive response. One farm, Penn View Farm in Perkasie, Pa., was the recipient of two trailers of hay, one from Canada and one from the mid-west. Paul Hockman of Penn View Farm was amazed by this gift, especially with the quality.“We received not only hay, but the best quality – they gave the First Fruits harvest to us,” said Hockman. That hay saved many farms in our area and saw them through the summer months. This act of mutual aid deeply resonated in our church family history.In the past year there was a similar “drought” in the Goshen/Elkhart, Ind., area, but this time it was a lack of jobs. Northern Indiana is home to large recreational vehicle manufacturers that employ thousands. As the economy worsened, so did the unemployment rate there, which is now at almost 20%. As stories of livelihoods lost from our brothers and sisters in this area began to surface and multiply, Firman Gingerich, lead pastor of Blooming Glen, had an epiphany – why not organize a mutual aid effort that would raise funds to help our brothers and sisters in the Goshen/Elkhart area?As he began to share the idea with others, fond memories of and deep appreciation for the gifts of hay came to everyone’s minds. Ultimately, Firman’s epiphany developed into the “Because We Care” pancake breakfast on April 19; all donations were sent to the Indiana-Michigan Conference for families in need. He connected with Heidi King from that conference and outlined the idea of the fund raiser, estimating a possible donation of $3,500-$4,000. Heidi was grateful for this initiative and looked forward to hearing about the development.As the plan began to roll out, Blooming Glen’s Luanne Grasse was asked to coordinate the breakfast from start to finish. The idea was communicated to the congregation during worship one Sunday in February. Luanne received 24 volunteers that day, as well as donations of all the sausage from Hatfield Quality Meats, food from Landis Market and beverages from Paul and John Hockman at Penn View Farms. Word of the breakfast became a “buzz” in the congregation as we all began to look forward to an opportunity to help others and have a tasty meal in the process.As we looked ahead to this event there was also a great deal of dialogue about mutual aid opportunities at home as some in our congregation and local community were experiencing the effects of the economy as well. Our church mutual aid resources were beginning to be more utilized than ever. Our pastors continued to raise awareness of these resources and began to understand the needs that could be satisfied. As these needs were processed, the communication and devotion of pastors and lay leaders were strengthened and deepened. Our church family became unified in the desire to help each other in God’s love.The pancake breakfast yielded a donation of $8,200, which far exceeded our original estimate. “Because We Care” was a success – financially, for the people for whom it was intended, and unifying, for the people who teamed together to express their love and concern.Mutual aid does that – it helps God’s people who are in need and gives God’s people the opportunity to satisfy those needs. This spirit is reflected in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
