Hershey Church of the Nazarene, 986 E. Governor Road, Hershey, will host a Fall Festival, featuring games, pony and horse rides, food and a bonfire, on Saturday, Nov. 13, from 1 to 6 p.m. All activities are free, and the community is welcome to attend.

The day will also include a concert at 4:30 p.m. by Ricky Murphy, who will perform contemporary Christian music. Murphy has been part of a Southern gospel band in the past and is currently in a Christian rock band in which he sings and plays acoustic guitar and keyboard.

He performs on his own as well, sharing his love of God in music ministry. "If one soul is touched by what I have to share, it's all worth it," he stated. "I love to share what the Lord has shared with me."

Attendees are asked to bring blankets or chairs for seating during the concert.

The church had held a Fall Festival in the past, and this year the activity was revived by the church, which is under the new leadership of interim pastor John Sharpless. "We are opening it to the community as an outreach to bring people to our church," said church board member Susan Crawford, event organizer.

Activities will take place in the large field behind the church, where there will be games on the volleyball and basketball courts and cornhole games. Hot dogs, nachos, s'mores and beverages will be offered at no cost. The Fall Festival will be held rain or shine.

The church also recently announced that it will be a designated drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child (OCC), which provides shoeboxes filled with gifts to children in need worldwide. OCC is held annually by Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization.

The community is invited to participate in the effort by gathering small toys, personal care items and school supplies and placing them in a shoebox during National Collection Week, which will take place this year from Monday, Nov. 15, through Monday, Nov. 22. Boxes can be dropped off at the Hershey Church of the Nazarene on the following dates: Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 17, through Friday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 20, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 4 p.m.; and Nov. 22 from 7 to 9 a.m.

In 2020, the church collected 2,336 boxes, which included 130 boxes packed by volunteers during a packing party held at the church. "(We receive boxes) from other churches, individuals and organizations," Crawford noted. "We collect between 2,000 and 3,000 boxes each year."

The boxes eventually make their way to Baltimore, one of eight shoebox processing centers in the United States. "We (rent a U-Haul) to transport them to a distribution center in Carlisle. From there, they go to Baltimore," Crawford said, adding that she and other congregation members have volunteered in Baltimore. "It was an amazing opportunity to (help). We have a small congregation, but we are a very giving church."

For more information about the Fall Festival or the OCC collection, visit http://www.facebook.com/hersheychurchofthenazarene or call 717-534-2010.