SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. – In an effort to receive higher bids for the Mennonite Friendship Communities’ Benefit Auction, the quilt sale is taking a new approach.

“We’ve been concerned for a couple of years about the ability to generate high enough bids for our high-quality quilts,” Lowell J. Peachey, President and CEO, said. “Our hope is that we will be able to broaden our market by using an online auction option.”

Bidding will begin on Nov. 1. Quilts may be viewed during the Benefit Auction on Saturday, Oct. 8, in the Independent Living hallway, just inside from where the auction will take place.

The annual Benefit Auction will be back at MFC this year, at 600 W. Blanchard in South Hutchinson. There will be a live and silent auction, starting at 9:30 a.m. Fresh homemade donuts are available at 8:30 a.m., while lunch starts at 10:30 a.m. The lunch is provided by the Amish School in Yoder, which will receive a majority of the proceeds from the meal.

All proceeds from the auction go to the Continuing Care Endowment Fund, which helps support residents who have run out of financial resources.

On the sale bill include four tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 20, 200 gallons of off-road diesel fuel, several collector tractors, a Stihl chainsaw complete with a carry case, helmet, six pack of ultra oil and one gallon bar oil, a Stihl gas trimmer; wild game dinner for 6, 8×10 Sturdi-Bilt shed, Wichita State University tickets, Wichita Thunder hockey tickets; 10 pounds of German Country-style Whole Hog sausage, one butcher hog for delivery to Yoder Meats on Oct. 25, a half side of grain finished butcher beef for delivery to Yoder Meats on Oct. 17; and more.

See an updated sale bill at www.MennoFriend.com.