Main board: Helfen und Heilen - Caring and healing

How do people who take Jesus' Sermon on the Mount seriously respond to the great needs of the world - war, hunger, misery? Active charity and solidarity with those who suffer are among the most important pillars of Anabaptism - against the background of a history of loss, death and separation. 

^{Mobile Meat Cannery in Virginia, after 1940 (MCC photo).}

Numerous examples of helping and healing can be found in the history of the Mennonite relief organization MCC (Mennonite Central Committee). This organization has been caring for those in need throughout the world for 100 years under the motto "Relief, development and peace in the name of Christ".

Food for relief and lunch tables

After World War II, MCC began providing home-canned goods to people in Europe. In Germany in 1947, 43 employees were responsible for distributing 4,538 tons of food, clothing and other items. MCC meals reached about 80,000 people.

^{Collection container for the kettle campaign (photo SMM Nothilfe 2015).}

"Imagine it's war and we send buckets instead of guns".

Toothbrushes, nail clippers, soap, towels - everything is purchased by volunteers and packed in buckets. Together with knitwear and quilts and accompanied by good wishes, the relief supplies travel to the people in war and crisis zones.

^{Mayor and administration of Neustadt a.d.W. (Palatinate) thank the Mennonite relief organization MCC for the help received during the famine years after World War 2 (Archive of the Mennonite Research Center Weierhof).}

The so-called bucket actions and the joint sewing of quilts have met with a great response beyond the borders of the Mennonite congregations - school classes, local church communities, women's groups, young people and senior citizens engage together in such projects.

However, short-term emergency aid and the sending of material goods can only have a positive effect if longer-term reconciliation, peace and justice are also worked towards.