Leola United Methodist Church (UMC) has a long rich tradition of altruism and community activity. It's a budding legacy that is manifested in and proliferated by the upcoming Kensill Fund for Hope event.

"We would love for members of the community to attend," said Adrienne Gorman, who's been the Kensill Fund for Hope's event chair for four years. "It would even be a great event for people who want to meet local people and become part of the community. It's also an opportunity to donate to a great cause."

This fall's edition of the annual Kensill Fund for Hope event will be conducted on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Leola UMC, 7 W. Main St., Leola. The fundraising event will feature a silent auction and luncheon from 1 to 4 p.m. inside the church's fellowship hall.

Prior to the luncheon and silent auction, there will be a community yard sale and flower sale staged from 10 a.m. to noon outside of the church building.

Tickets to the silent auction and luncheon can be obtained in person on the day of event or by going to https://giving.servantkeeper.com/LeolaUMC/3733.

"I think the atmosphere will be light and filled with fellowship," said Gorman. "People will be kind of meandering around the items up for bid and getting to know other people. It's kind of like a friendly auction. You can show up and maybe get a great deal on things you wouldn't normally (buy). It's more of a homey feel."

Of the more than 35 silent auction items available for bid, a greater emphasis has been placed on experiences and services rather than physical possessions. For example, there will be tickets to Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater in Paradise, tickets to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, a gift box and tickets from the Lancaster Barnstormers, passes to Go 'N Bananas in Lancaster, a gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse in Ephrata, themed baskets, gift cards, memberships, play passes and scrumptious baked goods.

Most of the auction items have been donated by local businesses.

Organizers of the Kensill Fund for Hope event are expecting more than 100 interested individuals to attend. All proceeds from the event - as much as $7,000 - will go directly to the Reverend Frank Kensill Fund, which monetarily supports higher education and after-school programs at Leola UMC's sister church, Mid-Town Parish in north Philadelphia.

"It's a very small community there in north Philadelphia," said Gorman, a resident of Leola, "and the students need it. They need the help."

The Kensill Fund was established in 1995 to honor the former pastor and further the missions he held dear. Each year, more than $6,000 in scholarship monies are awarded to students associated with Mid-Town Parish.

"(The fundraiser is) run correctly, and it's gotten to the point where it's going to run for years and years," said Gorman. "We're dispersing thousands of dollars two times a year, and a lot of it is interest. But if you don't continue to fundraise, it doesn't continue to do that."

A church with more than 100 active members, Leola UMC also sponsors and conducts community movie nights, a vacation Bible school and a fall fest, as well as community music nights in Leola. The church is also a proud supporter of Conestoga Valley Christian Community Services (CVCCS) and sponsors its own scholarship program and various missions.

"We're pretty active," said Gorman. "There definitely seems like there's something going on all the time."

For additional information, search for "Leola UMC" on Facebook.