Golf Tournament, Food Growing Project in LaCrete Raise $57,000 for the Poor

Mennonite Central Committee
Saturday, 14 October 2000

LA CRETE, Alta. --La Crete Mennonites are connecting with compassion to the poor in the world by raising funds to support the work of Mennonite Central Committee.

Mennonites from La Crete joined together in a community growing project for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) and in a third annual golf tournament for Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Larger Mennonite groups in the La Crete area include Old Colony, Sommerfelder, Bergthaler and Evangelical Mennonite.

The first ever growing project in this far north farming community was a success by all counts. "Roughly 110 people have been involved in one way or another. We haven't spent one penny yet. Everything has been donated so far," said Jake Teichroeb, who helped organize the effort.

The community planted 160 acres of wheat on donated land. It was harvested by 25 combines in 55 minutes on September 13, raising approximately $32,000 Cdn/$21,200 U.S. for MCC's account at CFGB. Teichroeb said 350 people came out for a wiener roast and stayed to watch the harvest.

"That was a fantastic celebration of a community coming together," said Mary Thompson, CFGB coordinator for Alberta and B.C.

One other community in Alberta--Carstairs--has had a community growing project for MCC"s account for the last few years.

Three days later, 30 golfers hit the links in La Crete. The golf tournament raised $25,200 Cdn/$16,700 U.S. for MCC. Two-thirds of the money will go to a well-drilling project in Mozambique and one-third to MCC Alberta programs.

Like the growing project, the golf tournament brought people together from a variety of churches. "I think all church groups were represented," said Bueckert. "It's that kind of activity that draws people together."

MCC Alberta Executive Director Abe Janzen said the efforts of Mennonite groups in La Crete are an inspiration to the rest of the province. "It energizes the rest of the province of Mennonites when they hear of what La Crete has done," he said. "It energizes all of us and motivates us."

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org