The 48th annual Brethren Disaster Relief Auction will be held at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center and Fairgrounds, 80 Rocherty Road, Lebanon, on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27, beginning at 9 a.m.

The auction, in cooperation with the Atlantic Northeast and Southern Districts of the Church of the Brethren, began in 1977 and has provided nearly $20 million in disaster relief to victims of natural disasters both in the U.S. and internationally. Funds raised by the auction pay for emergency supplies for disaster victims and support volunteer disaster relief trips throughout the year. In the past few years, funds and volunteers from the auction have helped immediate relief efforts and long-term cleanup and rebuilding efforts from disasters such as earthquakes in Haiti and tornadoes and floods in Pennsylvania.

Separate auctions will include a main auction, a children's auction, a quilt auction, a theme basket auction, two silent auctions, a heifer auction, a coin auction, a sporting goods auction, and a pole barn auction. The two-day event may have as many as five auctions taking place at once.

Children's activities this year will include the children's auction, specializing in new items for children to be bid on only by children. A children's store will offer quality used items at reasonable prices, as well as face painting. A balloon artist will create balloon animals for the children. Also available for children, weather permitting, will be free barrel train rides and pony rides, the latter of which will be offered for a nominal donation.

Food options will include Amish soft pretzels and doughnuts, a cafeteria, a buffet breakfast, chicken potpie, chicken barbecue, and a food stand. Other auction activities will include an area for arts and crafts and a farmers market with fresh produce and baked goods, including homemade pies.

To find out more about the auction, visit http://www.brethrenauction.org, call 717-823-2745, or pick up an auction booklet at many local retailers.