Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Abbotsford is among MCC sites across Canada hoping to make and collect a total of 6,500 comforters for distribution to people around the world affected by disaster or conflict.
The Great Winter Warm-up takes place Saturday, Jan. 18 at Ross Road Community Church (3160 Ross Rd.). Comforters will be collected and created from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. in celebration of MCC’s 100th anniversary.
As a global, non-profit organization, MCC provides relief to communities displaced by disasters or conflict.
When families are lacking basic necessities, comforters can be a versatile tool, says Rick Cober Bauman, executive director of MCC Canada.
He said the blankets can be used as bed covers, room dividers, carpets, curtains, wraps, mattresses, and more.
“Comforters are an excellent metaphor for the nature of our work around the world at MCC,” Cober Bauman said.
“One square of fabric alone cannot keep the cold away, but many pieces connected together produce warmth against the cold.”
Last year, more than 53,000 comforters were shipped by MCC to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haiti, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malawi, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Serbia, Syria and Ukraine as well as throughout Canada and the U.S.
Across the Fraser Valley, groups meet on a regular basis to create comforters. Visit mccbc.ca/events for more information.
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