Sharing our Surplus (SOS) Campaign

A new initiative to raise money for Syrian refugees

Each year the Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for Mennonite Central Committee, whose tagline is relief, development, and peace in the name of Christ. For the 2017 sale, the Relief Sale board is promoting a new opportunity to add to the total giving through a “S.O.S. (Sharing Our Surplus) Campaign” and donating the money to MCC’s work with Syrian refugees. The goal is to double the amount raised in 2016 by encouraging generous cash, check and credit card giving in addition to supporting the auction and the sale of food and other items. A special table will be set up Friday evening, September 29, and all day Saturday, September 30, to receive such donations for MCC war and famine refugee relief, in addition to the “My Coins Count” project (formerly Penny Power).

Harvey Yoder, who is spearheading this initiative, encourages relief sale attendees to think of giving in the spirit of Jubilee—”over and above our regular tithes and offerings, and not result in decreased giving elsewhere.” In his blogpost about the initiative, Yoder goes on to challenge us to “willingly become poorer for Christ’s sake.”

Yoder concludes his challenge with the words of the apostle Paul, responding to a famine in far off Judea: “Right now you have plenty and can help them; then at some other time they can share with you when you need it” (II Cor 9).