This is all for a good cause, and it has a family atmosphere," said Steph Heisey, describing the Manheim Holiday Craft Show. "It's so welcoming."

The show will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Ruhl's Church, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim. The event will feature vendors and food.

This is the eighth year for the event, which will highlight local crafters and direct-sales vendors. "I have over 35 vendors," said Michelle Eakman, who organizes that part of the event. "They are selling handmade cards, jams, chocolates, wax melts, signs, embroidery, painted rocks, jewelry, ornaments, stationery products, wood-burned items, scarves and more." Direct sales will include Mary Kay, Young Living, Pampered Chef, Norwex and Color Street.

The show will feature some youthful salespeople as well. "I have some young makers in their teens," Eakman shared. "I have a girl who does calligraphy and another girl who makes big crocheted stuffed animals. It's exciting to see younger kids get excited about their crafting. It's fun to see their creativity and the possibility of turning it into a business."

Gail Ruhl is in charge of the food at the craft show. "There's going to be lots of food, and it's going to be delicious," she said, adding that food will be available for eat-in or takeout. "We're going to have our chicken corn noodle soup, hot dogs, beef barbecue, baked goods and beverages. All the money we make from the food sales benefits our local, national and global missions."

The church members take an annual mission trip in June to various locations around the country. This past summer, a group served people recovering from massive flooding in Vermont. The summer 2025 trip is not finalized yet, but Ruhl said they are considering helping hurricane victims in North Carolina.

"We also do a lot of local things," she said. "A group just finished a ramp for someone who really needed one at their home. We did a day and helped a woman clean her house so she was ready when she came home from a hospital stay."

Proceeds from the vendor fees also benefit the church's missions, even though Eakman is not a member of the church.

"This is a really great fundraiser, because it's a shared project," Ruhl said. "Michelle does the lion's share of the work. I cook, but she does everything else, and we really appreciate that. She's very generous in helping us reach our goals and be able to do the things we want to do for others."

While the craft show provides an opportunity for visitors to get started on their holiday shopping, the event serves another purpose, Ruhl said: It brings people in the building.

"I'm excited when anybody new walks in our doors. I'm glad when anybody comes for any activity we hold here," she commented. "It's an opportunity for them to come and ask questions if they're interested in learning more about us. It's just fun and a very informal way for somebody to feel comfortable coming to a church they haven't been to before. That's a local mission of ours as well - to bring people to Christ and tell them about the love of Jesus."

Heisey, who will have two stands at the craft show, regularly attends the church's summer mission trips and noted that the craft show is another way to serve the community through the proceeds raised.

"We go on the trips to share the love of Jesus," she said. "It's what He requires of us - to help other people."

The Manheim Holiday Craft Show will be a cash-only event. Parking is available in a large lot, and both the building and restrooms are handicapped-accessible. For more information, search for "Manheim Holiday Craft Show" on Facebook.