This is a tale of making homes festive around the holidays. This is a tale of friendship. This is a tale of hope at Christmas.

This is the story of Cookies and Greens Benefit Sale, a community initiative to help a woman's missionary work in other countries.

"This is God's work," said Barb Dagen, the coordinator of the fundraiser. "We're to be the hands of Jesus. This sale and the funds raised will benefit those who have little. We're sharing an abundance because we have so much."

The fourth annual Cookies and Greens Benefit Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, at Dagen's rustic barn, 80 Hellers Church Road, Leola. The event is free to attend, and all proceeds will go toward Dagen's friend Tabitha Shilalo's LuoPad project, which provides feminine products to women and girls in places like Kenya, Uganda, Colombia, Cuba and Tanzania through the international nonprofit Unto, which is based in Mount Joy.

"Everybody's happy," said Dagen of the benefit sale's festive atmosphere. "It's a fun celebration. We have a display showing what we do. We're playing Christmas music. People look forward to coming because they know we have nice greens. It's a celebration of God's goodness. He's the one who gets the glory."

Although Cookies and Greens Benefit Sale is not directly affiliated with any one church, members of different local churches come together to bake cookies for the sale. The homemade cookies will be made available to benefit Shilalo's mission.

Also offered at the sale will be chocolate-covered pretzels, fresh greens, winterberry, winter arrangements, green wreaths, centerpieces, dried flower wreaths and nearly 30 themed gift baskets.

"We cut fresh greens for people to decorate their homes, and they come and buy it loose," said Dagen. "It is a concentrated group effort. There are a core group of women who are involved, and we have friends, and we reach out, and they donate too. There are a lot of people helping. It's a wide-reaching event."

A few hundred people are expected to attend the Cookies and Greens Benefit Sale. Last year, the event raised over $4,000 for Shilalo's mission project.

"To me, this event is a picture of the body of Christ coming together to fulfill the Great Commission," said Shilalo.

"We look at it like whatever we earn we will be good with," said Dagen. "The money will be deposited directly into Tabitha's account at Unto. It's a nonprofit gift. (The missionaries) have to raise support to work. (Tabitha) really feels called to this ministry."

"(Feminine hygiene products are) a huge need in other countries," continued Dagen. "This is an essential item, and it affects women's lives in so many ways. She will give out the pads and pray with (the women). So many of these women cry with her. She knows what it's like not to have these supplies. Her heart is for serving these women. It's sharing Christ."

It's been nearly 10 years now since Dagen met Shilalo while the former was working at the Upper Leacock Township municipal office and Shilalo came to the office as a customer to deal with a payment.

"We started talking," said Dagen. "That's how I got to know her. One day she came in and asked if I'd help her raise funds. I was like, 'Oh my, I'm not good at that.' I prayed about it, and I said, 'Yes.' We're supporting her financially and spiritually. It's a huge impact for Tabitha personally."

For additional information about the event, search for "Cookies and Greens Benefit Sale" on Facebook.