12th Annual Consignment Sale - March 2, 2013

Below is an article that appeared in The Nemaha County Herald and The Tecumseh Chieftain:



For more than ten years, as winter turns to spring, throngs of people gather on a windy hill south of Johnson.  The purpose of this gathering is as varied as the people who gather.  For some it is a way of rid themselves of unwanted machinery and goods while others see it as an opportunity to make some extra cash from the sale of hedge posts.  Some are looking for a bargain, while others just see it as an opportunity to socialize after being cooped up during the long winter nights.  Whatever the reason, something special happens on the windy hill each year, the Martin Luther Consignment Auction.

Although it began with the need to raise funds for the upcoming church anniversary celebration in 2002, it has grown into an incredible opportunity for the members of Martin Luther Church to give back to a community that they have called home for over 110 years.  The annual sale brings hundreds of folks to the southwest corner of Nemaha County and with countless volunteers who graciously donate their time, the church has been able to raise thousands of dollars to help the surrounding communities.

In the past year alone over $30,000 has been given to the following groups:
Johnson County Central School Backpack Program, $1000
HTRS School Backpack Program, $1000
J-B School Back Pack Program, $1000
Auburn School Backpack Program, $1000
Johnson County Rescue Squad, $1000
Humboldt Rescue Squad, $1000
Auburn Rescue Squad, $1000
Johnson Rescue Squad, $23,500

In addition to these donations, the women's group has enjoyed the opportunity to host a food stand.  It is with homemade goods including pies and soups that draws some folks back to the consignment sale year after year.  The women have also donated thousands of dollars over the years to benefit the community and world around.  They have donated to People's City Mission and Open Door Mission, the Heifer Project, the Nemaha County and Johnson County food pantries, Martin Luther Home (Mosaic), Neighbor to Neighbor, the Johnson Rescue Squad  Lydia House, the Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry and countless other organizations. 

The members of Martin Luther Church know that they cannot do this project alone.  They are thankful for the support that the community has given to this project and the gifts that God has entrusted to them to reach out to others in need.
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The 12th Annual Martin Luther Consignment Sale was held March 2, 2013.
The week before the sale is always a flurry of activity.
MLC has many volunteers who donate their equipment and time
to make sure every piece to be sold is checked in, logged and
lined up for the big sale day.

Sale day weather was a cold 21 degrees but with no wind blowing 

as it had so much of the week prior, we felt lucky.  

As the sunny day progressed we made it to 34 degrees.

Three sale rings were utilized during the sale which
started at 9:30 a.m. and concluded
shortly before 4:00 p.m.

You can enlarge these pictures by clicking on the picture. 

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You'll see in the distance that the landscape shows some snow.  

One week prior to the sale, several men bladed the snow from acres 

of sale grounds and the result certainly benefited the sale-goers.

The Consignment Sale is a very large event that only succeeds

with the members of MLC volunteering their time and resources.  

A big THANK YOU to all who help make this event a success!

Benefactors of this year's consignment sale are:

Rescue Squads of Auburn, Tecumseh, Humboldt and Johnson

Back Pack Programs at Johnson-Brock, Auburn, Pawnee City, Johnson County Central and HTRS Schools

SENCA/Meals on Wheels at Auburn and Tecumseh

Neighbor to Neighbor, Auburn

Life Skills, Auburn

Elk Creek Legion