2021 IPN Holiday Open House a Success Dec. 11

 By Christine Sheller

Iowa Peace Network hosted their Annual Holiday Open House and Alternative Gift Fair, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021.  People were invited to the Des Moines Mennonite Church, Saturday, Dec. 11 from 1:30 to 4:00 pm,  for refreshments, fellowship, an alternative shopping experience complete with live Christmas music, and a presentation by Jeffrey Weiss.

Jeffrey Weiss speaking at the IPN Holiday Open House (Abusharkh)

COVID-19 precautions were followed, and we had more people attend the Open House than we have had in several previous years!  Throughout the day, more than 30 people attended for parts or all of the Open House.  Thank you all who had a part in making the Open House a success!

The shopping experience consisted of several tangible items and also untangible items.  Tangible items included handcrafts from Guatemala from both G.A.P. (Guatemalan Accompaniment Program) and a textile cooperative in Guatemala connected to persons in the Des Moines area.  Equal Exchange items were available, thanks to the First United Methodist Church in downtown Des Moines.  Iowa Peace Network had new pottery available, thanks to Russ and Jackie Leckband and their donation of dove pottery.  IPN also had other items sell, such as peace and justice holiday cards and bumper stickers.  Non-tangible gifts were available from Heifer Project, On Earth Peace, Church World Service, and Global Women’s Project.  We raised some money for those organizations as well.

                                                Araceli and Erika at the Gift Fair (Abusharkh)

Shopping, fellowship, and music was followed by a presentation at 2:30 pm in the sanctuary by Jeffrey Weiss, on “Human Rights and the State of the World 2021.”  Jeffrey Weiss is an adjunct professor at DMACC in Ankeny, and as many know an active person in the peace community, and having had positions at AFSC and Catholic Peace Ministry in the past.  He shared some uplifting news about global health statistics around the world, including life expectancy around the world, as well as birth rates, and education for women around the world.

Christine Sheller (left) and Erika Abusharkh (right) at the Alternative Gift Fair portion of the Open                                                                     House. (Abusharkh)

Thanks to the Des Moines Mennonite Church for letting us use their building and doing the cleaning afterwards, and renting us our office space there, as well.  Thanks to all who helped out in anyway including hosting tables at the fair: Erika Abusharkh and Araceli, Eloise Cranke, Glen and Vicki Draper, Meghan Kodiaga, Mark Liechty, Kathleen McQuillen, Dorothy Sheller, Keith Sheller, John Tyson, and Jeffrey Weiss.  If I missed anyone, I apologize!  Pictures thanks to Erika Abusharkh.

 

Christine Sheller is coordinator at Iowa Peace Network.  She is an M. Div. graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary.