"People have started bringing in (items), but it's not organized yet," said Mary Yohe, chair of the Leola United Methodist Church (UMC) mission committee, referring to the items that have been donated so far for the church's annual auction, which benefits students wishing to pursue education after high school. Yohe added that donations from the business community, usually in the form of gift cards, will also be sold.

The annual Kensill Fund for Hope Auction will be held at Leola UMC, 7 W. Main St., Leola, on Saturday, Sept. 24. A chicken barbecue will be held in the parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon, and the auction will begin at noon. The event is open to the public.

Among the many items that will go across the auction block are a wooden cradle, dishes, plants, decorative items, needlework, jewelry, toys, games, books, school supplies, quilts, gift baskets, baked goods, and vacation getaways. Yohe reported that hot dogs, chips, beverages, and whoopie pies will be sold during the auction.

According to Yohe, the Kensill Fund was started in 1995, with the first student gifts awarded in 1996. The fund is named for the Rev. Frank Kensill, who served Mid-Town Parish in North Philadelphia from 1957 through 1996. The national UMC body encouraged churches to work with other local churches to help each other out. Leola became a sister church to Mid-Town, with members traveling to Philadelphia to paint and help repair the gym floor. Charles Koon, a member of Leola UMC, and Kensill wanted to help children of Mid-Town to further their education. "They started a number of programs," said Yohe, who noted that an after-school program involved students from Temple University acting as mentors. One of these programs was the fund that would help provide monetary gifts for students who wanted to attend college or technical school after high school. "The first gifts were awarded in 1996, and there were three of them," said Yohe. To date, more than 50 Mid-Town students have received aid.

Yohe noted that students from the Mid-Town area must participate with the church in some way to be eligible to apply for funds. "They must be enrolled (at a college or technical school), and they must submit financial statements," she explained, adding that yearly giving is capped at $5,000. "If six apply and all qualify, the money is divided," said Yohe. The annual auction raises about $7,000 for the fund, and cash contributions often add another $2,000 to $3,000.

"Some of the students have gone on to earn their doctorate degrees," said Yohe, who noted that another student earned a dual degree. "We are really proud of her," Yohe stated, adding that some gift recipients visit the auction to talk about their lives and help out as runners. "It's wonderful to get to meet the students," she said.

Readers who would like more information about the auction may visit https://sites.google.com/view/leola-united-methodist-church/home. For answers to specific questions, call 717-560-2865.