Hope comes in many different sizes, in many different shapes and in many different forms. Hope comes from various origins, various places and various sources.

Yes, there is hope for Haiti. It's alive and well in Ephrata.

"Haiti has been in the news, and it's almost always negative," said Kristen Hertzog, who's visited Haiti 79 times over the last 30 years, many of which have been as missions of mercy. "It seems like there is constantly drama there. I've been asked, 'Why do you keep going back for more?' I think the reality is that when you're on the ground and meet the people down there, it gives it a different dimension."

Hertzog is also a board member for the Hope for Haiti Benefit Auction and a liaison between the fundraiser and the people of Haiti. This year's edition of the annual benefit auction will be conducted on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. until everything is sold, at the one-room Metzler School, 535 Metzler Road, Ephrata.

Admission to the Hope for Haiti Benefit Auction is free.

"It's a typical country auction," said Hertzog. "But every year it's different, which is why people should come again. Our auction is unique because everyone is invited to volunteer and participate. You can come casually, or you can come to buy something."

Some of the items that will be made available for bids at the auction include collectibles, tools, sheds, furniture, gift cards, quilts, antiques, flowers, plants, outdoor items and locally made craft goods. There will also be a large food court offering homemade dishes; a children's tent featuring games, activities and prizes; a Spikeball tournament; and a bake sale.

"All of these unique groups are coming together," said Hertzog. "It's a different vibe because of that. We don't all believe the same things, but we're all coming together for that one purpose, to better the lives of people who don't have it as good as we Americans. If we can open our hearts for other people, that's a win for me. It's OK that we're all different, and it's OK that the Haitians are different."

Nearly 2,000 people are expected to attend the Hope for Haiti Benefit Auction, which is supported by the work of 125 volunteers. During its 12 years of existence, the benefit auction has raised nearly $500,000 for education and business support and training for the people of Haiti.

This year, all the proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward a pair of Haiti-based programs, the Hope Library and Christian Training Center in Port-au-Prince and the Transformation Haiti's Paradigm Shift Program in Cap-Haitien. Specifically, the funds will help provide books, reliable internet, computers and opportunities for higher education.

"(The organizers and supporters of the benefit auction) have been investing their time and resources for years to benefit a place they cannot visit," said Hertzog. "That ups the ante for me. The name Hope for Haiti came from an Old Order Mennonite woman, and she said we're giving people we don't know hope for a better life. When she did that, she was never going to experience the end result."

Located in the Caribbean, Haiti has struggled with harsh economic conditions for decades and is known as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many of Haiti's nearly 12 million residents live below the poverty level.

"The average Haitian lives on two dollars a day," said Hertzog. "For years and years, the political turmoil has been so bad. I've been there enough to know that the world's goods are not equally divided. I told myself, 'I've got to start something.' I think that bigger-picture stuff is important. At the end of the day, people are important. That was the beginning of the Hope for Haiti Benefit Auction."

For additional information, search for "Hope for Haiti Benefit Auction" on Facebook.