Volunteers at the Material Resource Center in Ephrata, Pa., sort and recycle donated items that raise money for MCC. Parke Mellinger folds comforters made of recycled fabric that are shipped around the world.

On average, about 900 volunteers come to the Ephrata, Pa., Material Resource Center each month to serve in a variety of ways. There are 16 material resource centers located in Canada and the United States, all supported by the servant hearts of volunteers.

Roy Weaver creates rugs by weaving strips of recycled pants together on a loom. It takes four pairs of pants to make one rug. The rugs are sold at relief sales and in MCC thrift shops to raise money for MCC. Last year rug sales at the Ephrata, Pa., Material Resource Center raised $4,700 for MCC.

John Weinhold weaves placemats out of strips of recycled fabrics.

Evelyn Gerstalauer cuts squares of recycled fabric that will be made into shopping bags. Volunteers also use fabric to make bags for school kits, health kits and sewing kits. Find out how to donate kit items.

Volunteers Harold Frey, center, Paul Burkholder, right, Aaron Sauder, left foreground, and Herbert Hess, left background, take apart old books that will be recycled.

Paul Groff sorts through books, separating hard and soft covers. Last year $40,000 was generated for MCC from paper recycling at the Ephrata, Pa., Material Resource Center, which includes books, office paper, newspaper, magazines and cardboard.

Joe Oberholtzer winds strips of cloth from recycled pants at the Ephrata, Pa., Material Resource Center.  The cloth will be used to weave into rugs.

Ora Mast cuts old T-shirts into rags that will be packaged and sold. The rags are in such high demand that it is difficult to keep up with orders. Buyers include construction companies, auto mechanics, paving companies, cabinet shops and hotels.

Volunteers recycle cardboard that gets compacted, baled and sold for recycling. Pictured left to right are Clyde Musser, Melvin Nolt and Al Claassen.

Esther Gehman puts strings in school kit bags, which are made from recycled fabric and sewn together by volunteers.

Jerry Walsh, left, and John Kreider bale comforters made of recycled fabrics to be shipped overseas. If you have a heart to serve and would like to volunteer your time or donate supplies, find a drop-off location at a material resource center or an MCC thrift shop near you.