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Red potatoes, quilts, cupcakes, and scones
2014 Harvest of Talents will be bigger and better than ever

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[October 23, 2014]  LINCOLN - What do South Dakota red potatoes, a quilt designed and quilted in California and a small knitted purse have in common? These donated items will all be offered for sale at Saturday’s Harvest of Talents for World Hunger, held at Lincoln Christian Church in Lincoln.

Early Monday morning a truck load of red potatoes (600 50 lb bags) arrived in Lincoln as a donation from the Maynard potato farm based in Clark, South Dakota. The vibrant colored medallion quilt, “This is The Day the Lord has Made”, was designed and pieced by Ruth Locke, daughter of former Lincoln Christian Church Pastor, Gene Shepherd. A Syrian woman in a Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan, just across the border from Syria, knitted the small turquoise purse, donated by a friend of the Harvest.

These three donations will join hundreds of others, given by friends of the Harvest in this country, China, India, Mexico, Laos, Turkey, and other parts of the world that are being placed on sale by the Harvest ministry to raise funds to feed hungry people worldwide. Doors to the 31st Annual event will open at 7 a.m. At the same time the church’s signature cinnamon and caramel pecan rolls will be served as breakfast fare. All items donated to the Harvest are handmade, many are one of a kind, and most would make excellent choices for birthday, Christmas, and other gift giving occasions.


Breads, pies, rolls, coffee cakes, cup cakes and other baked goods will be sold in Yesteryear’s Kitchen, including both sugar free and gluten free varieties. A limited number of jellies, salsa, and bean soup mix will also be available. Due to illness, there will not be an abundance of canned goods for purchase this year.

Harvest morning activities include the Lincoln Area Y Harvest Run (5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk) and the 2014 Kids Run. Registration for both events is open until October 23 and may be made by contacting the local Y @217-735-3915. The Kids Run begins at 8:15 a.m. and the Harvest Run at 8:45 a.m., both at the Corner of Pekin and Hamilton Street in Lincoln.

Morning activities will be available for children. One of the many booths at the Harvest will feature items made for kids by kids. The popular face painting booth will return as well as henna designs and hair braiding.

The Maynard South Dakota potatoes may be picked at the church during office hours and beginning at 7 a.m. on Harvest Day. The 50 pound bags sell for $15.00 each and a limited number of 20 pound bags will also be available at $7.50 per bag. Potatoes may also be donated to the local food bank and Inner City Mission with free delivery.

Those who might be more interested in eating than shopping are invited to stop by the Harvest Fare (in the church parking lot) where deep fried potatoes, a Harvest favorite, will be sold along with hot dogs. The staff of International Disaster Emergency Service are pitching in to sell walking tacos.

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At the Lincolnberry Prairie Café a variety of scones and snacks will be available. The 2014 heart shaped scones will be featured following the theme “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Al’s brisket sandwiches have also become a favorite item of Lincolnberry. Guests are invited to snack/fellowship in the parking lot or pick up snacks/lunch to take with them.

The noon luncheon offered in the Fellowship Center dining room features the Harvest vegetable soup, cooked outside in large black kettles. BBQ sandwiches accompany the soup with a variety of tasty homemade pies for dessert.

The Harvest Day events will conclude with the 2 p.m. auction. Among the traditional quilts, stitchery, woodwork, photograph and repurposed items to be auctioned will be a 9-foot pre-lit Christmas tree, themed, Shades of Red and Gold Splendor, decorated and donated by several Lincoln Christian Church families. The 2014 auction will not be without its usual unique items, this year in the form of a little potbelly piglet. All signs point to another “fun” auction!

The Harvest Ministry Team of Lincoln Christian Church extends a warm invitation to all of their friends and family in the Logan County area to share a day of shopping, good food, and fellowship with them. Every penny raised at the hunger event will be channeled through International Disaster Emergency Service to meet hunger needs worldwide. Harvest funds raised in 2013 are being used for food in 22 missions in 12 countries. The previous Harvests have raised over $1,819,213.38, with every penny going for hunger relief.

The final event of Harvest weekend will be a 10 a.m. Sunday Celebration Service to be held in the Chapel of Lincoln Christian University. The public is invited to share in this time of praise and thanksgiving.

[Patricia Snyder, Harvest of Talents]

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