Early on a gloomy Saturday morning in late May, a group of eager Conrad Grebel University College students rolled up their sleeves and began spreading icing on hundreds of cream buns and long johns. Working tirelessly without stopping – not for the rain, not for friends who stopped by, and not even for a taste of the sweet treats – these students volunteered to work in the cream bun tent at the 2024 New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale. Alongside the capable team from Steinmann Mennonite Church, Grebel stepped in to help when the group who previously sold this delectable dessert was no longer able to do it. With buckets of icing and bags of buns, this volunteer opportunity brought together Grebel students, staff, and alumni, with the shared purpose of raising money for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) initiatives.

One of the icing-spreaders, Tim Khoo, grew up attending Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church and now lives at Grebel studying Physics. He also sits on the MCC Ontario Board of Directors as a Young Adult Representative. In this role, he offers a fresh perspective on current issues and also encourages young adult participation in MCC events such as the Relief Sale. 

Soon after their shift with the cream buns wrapped up, everyone’s attention turned to the famous quilt auction. The feature quilt this year was created by Sara Cressman, Grebel’s Director of Finance by day and creative sewer by night. Her quilt, entitled “Tree,” featured a leafless tree amidst a vivid stained-glass inspired backdrop, as it addressed life’s grief and joy, beginnings and endings.  

The auction for this quilt became heated as the bidding came down to two parties: Sara’s mother Susan Cressman, and Grebel alum Lisa Shantz. Lisa had pulled together a consortium of bidders and entertained the crowd with intense communication across the arena and last-minute increment increases. Ultimately, Susan’s determination won out and she went home with the quilt. However, the story of the quilt does not end there. 

Cream bun tent.

Energized by the group of eager Grebel bidders, Susan generously donated the quilt to Grebel, where it will hang in the atrium and remind students of the day’s possibilities and the closing of a chapter. And building on the enthusiasm of her original bidding consortium, Lisa convinced the group of Grebelites to honour their pledges and match the quilt price. To add to the generosity, there was another matching group present. The Brubacher siblings had previously committed to match the quilt’s final bid in memory of their parents, Selina Brubacher, an avid quilt maker, and Toby Brubacher, an avid NHMRS volunteer. In all, Sara’s quilt “Tree” raised more than $20,000 for Mennonite Central Committee. 

“Donating the quilt to Grebel was an easy decision,” reflected Susan. “The quilt has themes of grief and joy, and with the recent deaths of Sara's grandma, father, and aunt, I felt it would be meaningful to donate the quilt in their memory where others could enjoy it as well."

“Sara has been creating and donating quilts to the Relief Sale for many years,” said Grebel President Marcus Shantz. “It’s wonderful that her family, friends, and Grebel co-workers took this opportunity to show appreciation for her work – and it’s all for a good cause.” 

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By Jennifer Konkle

Just a few days before the 2024 Relief Sale, a different type of collaboration between Grebel and MCC culminated in a meticulously researched final presentation. Read more about MPACS student Fiona Li’s research project with MCC Ontario’s Indigenous Neighbours program and her Map the System win in the article: CPA story.