Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

Rev. A. N. Martens, Buhler, Ks., and Rev. Abr. Balzer, Hillsboro, Ks. For the Mennonite Brethren Church; Rev. H. W. Lohrenz, Rev. P. C. Hiebert and Bro. J. W. Wiens, all of Hillsboro, Kans. For the Krimer Mennonite Brethren: Bro. M. B. Fast, Reedley, Cal., Rev. D. E. Harder, Hillsboro, Kans., and Rev. J. J. Friesen, Hillsboro, Ks. This committee later organized with P. C. Hiebert, Chairman; D. E. Harder, Recording Secretary; D. J. Regier, Treasurer; M. B. Fast, General Secretary. Soon the way to the brethren in Siberia closed and it was learned from the reports of some of our young men who were serving in Europe under the Friends Service Committee that there was much suffering and great need in Central Europe, it was decided to direct our efforts towards relieving the suffering in Austria and Germany. Calls for relief for Central Europe that were sent out through our papers met with unanticipated liberal response. Relief work was carried on by this committee for two years with D. R. Hoeppner, official representative for Central Europe. A special phase of this work included the transpor- tation of under-fed and famished children from Austria to Switzerland for the purpose of recuperation. The Swiss promised to provide a home with clothing and food free during their vacation or until they were fully restored. Almost two thousand children were thus given a new lease on life and an opportunity to develop normally. ORGANIZED AMERICAN MENNONITE RELIEF 37 In view of the great need of clothing in Central Europe directly after the war, it was agreed that we raise funds for the purchase of clothing in America for Austrian children. Prof. B. E. Ebel of Boston, Mass., served the committee in the purchase of clothing directly from the large textile firms in and around Boston, to the amount of $3,764.00. When the report of the organization of the Men- nonite Central Committee at Elkhart, Ind., was presented to this committee on August 8, it was decided to codperate because the belief in united action was unanimous. Prof. P. C. Hiebert was selected to represent the Emergency Relief Committee of the Mennonites of North America in the newly established central organization. At the committee meeting October 11 it was decided to discon- tinue aggressive work of raising funds for Central Europe and to instruct our Mr. Hoeppner to take steps to close the work in Austria and Central Europe as a whole, arranging for the distribution through local committees of such funds as might come in later. At the meeting of the committee of December 13, 1921, Bro. D. R. Hoeppner was released upon receiving information that he had been accepted by the Mennonite Central Committee for work in the Volga region of Russia. It was agreed to send the available funds for Central Europe to Bro. Abr. Warkentin, Ober-Ursel, Germany for distribution among the needy. Treasurer's Report Total receipts for all purposes $23