At the 42nd Harvest of Talents at Lincoln Christian Church Saturday, October 25, crowds of people showed up to shop, eat and help raise money to feed hungry people.

The Harvest of Talents for World Hunger gives 100 percent of the funds raised to International Disaster Emergency Service, which “exists to meet physical and spiritual needs of suffering people throughout the world in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Over the past 41 years, this event has raised $3,000,656 to help provide food for the hungry in 43 countries including the United States.

As always, the church foyer was filled with many indoor booths that included a variety of handcrafted items such as quilts, wreaths, seasonal décor, baby gifts, fashion accessories, “man cave” items and items from other countries.

In addition, there were tables full of baked goods, homemade sweet treats, jams, honey and home canned goods.

While shopping, people could park at the curb by the church’s Pekin Street entrance. For a donation, Aaron, Owen and Eli Roemer checked the vehicle’s tire pressure, oil and filters, topped off windshield wiper fluid, washed the windshield and dusted and vacuumed the interior.

At the H.O.T. spa, people could get their hair braided or have tinsel put in, have their scalp massaged or have their nails painted for a small donation.

Downstairs in the children’s ministry area, a Lego station was set up. Many children enjoyed making their own creations or building with a Lego kit.

God Always Provides (G.A.P.), represented the mission International Disaster Emergency Services. G.A.P. had tables set up where people of all ages had an opportunity to serve by packing nutritious meals for those around the world suffering from hunger. The group has fundraisers at Culver’s several times a year and some employees from Culvers participated in packing the meals. Each packet was filled with rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins and minerals. In just a few hours, the group boxed up thousands of packets.

In the morning, hungry shoppers enjoyed cinnamon rolls, caramel pecan rolls, breakfast burritos and fried potatoes.

At lunchtime, volunteers served homemade vegetable soup, sloppy joes and dessert in the fellowship center. Down the hallway, there was a drink station with fresh brewed sweet tea, lemonade, cider and bottled water.

In one of the other rooms, pulled pork sandwiches, Italian beef sandwiches, tacos, macaroni and cheese, hand fruit pies and an apple sundae bar were available.

Around a small outdoor fire pit, people could warm up with hot drinks and roast marshmallows to make s’mores.

At one of the tables outdoors, children could paint pumpkins.

Other outdoor areas were set up with someone sharpening knives, someone doing henna body art and someone creating balloon art.

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