While walking around the Michiana Relief Sale, it is easy to forget
that someone had to set up all of the booths, tables and chairs, and
after all the people leave, someone has to see to it that all the
booths are taken down again. Imagine having to make sure that 1,300
chairs are set up for the quilt auction alone.
Richard Miller, 29, a member of the Fairhaven Amish Mennonite
congregation of Goshen, is in charge of that task. His job is to make
sure all the equipment is gotten out of the storage room at the Elkhart
4-H fairgrounds where the sale is held, and to make sure all the tables
and chairs get to where they are needed on the grounds. He also has to
make sure there are volunteers to put everything in place. The position
is a three-year term with a maximum of two terms. This year is Miller’s
fifth year in charge.
The set up process is too massive to be handled alone. Miller credits
Goshen College students who have volunteered as part of their Celebrate
Service Day for the past four years, which he says has been a big help.
Miller also gets help from specific people from the area in setting up
the mechanical and electrical aspects. “Labon Hochstetler has helped
with setup for many years and has been a great help by doing a lot of
the little projects,” he said. “Nate Miller has basically been my
personal assistant and he also does all the electrical. Joe Shelter has
also been involved in setup for many years – and he still does all the
mechanical setup. Nate Hershberger is another person who is there every
year and just helps with whatever is needed. James Nofziger, who is
also the chairman of the sale, has been a great help the last few
years.”
Set up starts the Monday before the sale with Tuesday through Thursday
being the days that most of the things are set in place. Miller said,
“Friday is when most of the people that are in charge of the different
booths start to come in and make small adjustments. Thursday evening is
a big evening the Woodlawn/Fairhaven church youth group comes in and
sets up around 1,300 chairs in the main quilt auction area.”
Most things are in place from year to year. However, Miller said,
“Sometimes the places that we rent things from move or go out of
business. If this happens we immediately start looking for new sources.”
Miller jokes that he became in charge “mostly by knowing the wrong
people and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Joe Shelter was
in charge of setup and I had over the years helped with some of the
set-up and tear-down and he ask if I would be willing to serve a term
as head of setup. I guess he wouldn't take no for an answer, so here I
am.”
The cleanup is done in a day, usually the last day of the sale. “The
tear down process begins Saturday immediately after the sale is over,
usually around 2 to 3,” he said. “And depending on how many people I
can find to help we are done by anywhere from 9:30 to 12:00. The last
couple of years things have went very smoothly and we have been done by
9:30.”
Monthly meetings are held throughout the year to work out details,
except in December and January, and to guarantee that the set up and
take down processes will be successful. There is also a kickoff dinner
in the spring for everyone in charge of any aspect of the sale.
Miller admits he both enjoys and dreads his job. “I always dread the 4
o’clock alarm on Saturday morning to open up the buildings so that some
of the people can get started with their things,” he said. “And also
the dread of knowing that around 2:00 p.m. what we worked so hard to
set up needs to come down. But at the end of the day when everything is
done and you realize that you are not alone in the fight to advance the
kingdom of God it is worth it.”
“The thing I enjoy the most about the sale is every year working with
many different people from many congregations. Also, meeting new
people. I am just continually amazed at people and their ability to put
aside their differences in biblical theology and work together as a
community for the sole purpose of raising money for the work of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Miller’s favorite part of the sale is working Saturdays because he
doesn’t have as many responsibilities if problems arise, and so is able
to just sit and talk with the other workers in food distribution and
others in charge of the different booths.
This year’s relief sale promises to be a good time, he said, noting
that he is looking forward to working with new people and meeting new
challenges. “I would encourage you and your friends to make it to the
sale and enjoy the fellowship and the good food,” Miller said. “Also if
anyone is interested in working in any area [of the sale] we are always
looking for volunteers, even if it is for just a couple of hours.”
