WOOSTER, Ohio — The first Haystack Supper and Benefit Auction on June 21 raised more than $140,000 for the Amish Care Fund at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. The supper was held at Mt. Hope Event Center in Millersburg, Ohio. 

The event included a traditional haystack supper of crushed crackers, rice, beef, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, onions and shredded cheese topped with warm cheese sauce, sour cream taco sauce, sweet and sour dressing, and crushed nacho cheese tortilla chips. Dessert included fruit cups, homemade brownies and ice cream. Throughout the meal, 700 pounds of beef and 30 roasters of nacho cheese sauce were served to more than 3,000 attendees.

The supper was followed by a raffle and auction of 300 items including quilts, furniture, and lawn and garden tools. Food, auction items and raffle prizes were donated by community members, area churches and local businesses. The lead auctioneer was Steve Chupp of Steve Chupp Auctions. 

Funds raised from the event will benefit the Amish Care Fund of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, a community-based, not-for-profit hospice serving patients and their families in Wayne, Holmes, Ashland and Medina counties.

“Every dollar that was generated will help somebody pay for their care with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare,” said John Miller, Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare board member and Amish community liaison. 

The Amish Care Fund enables Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare to provide superior care and superior services to anyone in the Amish community facing end-of-life illnesses, regardless of their ability to pay; grief support to anyone in the Amish community at no cost; complementary services such as massage and music therapies; and palliative care to Amish patients whose chronic disease compromises their quality of life.

“This event is an example of what is best about neighbors helping neighbors, which is the heart of hospice care,” said Kurt Holmes, executive director of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. “With this ongoing support from our neighbors, we are able to continue providing end-of-life care, programs and services to the Amish community. Thank you to the event hosts and organizers, community members who attended, and those who participated in the auction to benefit the Amish Care Fund.”