In 2019, the Leola United Methodist Church (UMC) craft show filled the church fellowship hall with vendors and visitors. Then COVID-19 arrived, and restrictions closed the show for two years.

Now, organizers Grace Kieley and Kathy Geltz are working to organize the 2022 show, which will be the eighth event. The show will be held at the church, 7 W. Main St., Leola, on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kieley and Geltz hope to have about 20 vendors selling a variety of items, and hungry visitors will find lunch items and baked goods for sale.

Among the many handmade and creative items organizers hope to have on display will be holiday cards, scarves, fleece blankets, hand towels, and cat and dog treats. Other items will include plants and home-based business items, such as Tastefully Simple products.

Food items that will be offered for purchase will include sub sandwiches and a variety of baked goods.

To occupy children at the show, organizers have devised a make-and-take-craft activity. "They will make a little fall owl," said Geltz. "Everything is pre-cut, so they just have to pick a body and eyes (to put together)."

Funds raised by the event will be split between two church projects. One will be Operation Christmas Child, a Samaritan's Purse project that provides gift-filled shoeboxes to millions of children in need. The second will be Rise Against Hunger, a program Leola UMC pastor David Ryan said that the church is hoping to become involved with. "Rise Against Hunger provides meal kits for people around the world," said Ryan, who noted the church would sign up to take part in a packing event where stations would be set up to fill kits with items such as rice, dried vegetables, and vitamins. He said that church members will need to raise about $3,000 to take part. "Each bag feeds a family of six," he noted.

Readers who would like more information may visit http://www.leolaumc.com, email leolaumc@gmail.com, or call 717-656-7600.