Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church, 1199 Valley Road, Quarryville, will host its annual Nuts 'N' Bolts sale on Saturday, Jan. 11, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will feature a variety of local vendors, and a portion of the proceeds will support the church's ongoing community outreach and mission trips to Peru.

The Nuts 'N' Bolts sale was created to be a consignment event that primarily featured items often regarded as more appealing to men, such as lawn care equipment, power tools and sporting goods. The idea was proposed to church leadership by congregation member Boni Henry, who noticed that most consignment events feature items that appeal primarily to women. As the only girl in her family, Boni grew up playing with the boys in her neighborhood, and she later had three sons. Boni became especially familiar to traditionally masculine hobbies and activities, and the men in her life served as the inspiration for the new event.

The inaugural Nuts 'N' Bolts sale took place 11 years ago, and it was exceedingly well-received by the community. Boni received a wave of positive feedback from attendees as the event continued to grow each year. Although the event still includes many vendors who sell items such as football gear, power drills and accessories for the man cave in the basement, Boni decided to open the Nuts 'N' Bolts sale to vendors with other types of merchandise. "Vendors would call me and ask if they could bring jewelry or dishes to sell," Boni said. "I said 'Sure; if we run out of space, we'll just have to turn people away.' But we haven't had to do that." Vendors who are interested in participating in this year's event may call Boni at 717-405-1113 or send an email to bohphen@outlook.com.

Twenty percent of the proceeds from vendor sales will support Middle Octorara Presbyterian's Peru Fund, which allows the church to sustain continuous humanitarian efforts in Tamshiyacu, a village in a rural part of Peru. The Peru Fund has been used to purchase medical supplies for a hospital located near the village, including wheelchairs, items for newborns and other provisions to aid local residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to purchasing medical supplies, money from the Peru Fund covers the expenses for frequent mission trips to Tamshiyacu. During past mission trips, volunteers from Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church completed renovation projects such as repainting homes in the village, which are often in need of restoration due to the proximity to the river and the region's often-severe weather. This year, Middle Octorara Presbyterian Church also used the Peru Fund to help a man named Villa, the church's liaison in Tamshiyacu, to acquire an adequate amount of property for housing. "We're really glad to be able to help Villa," Boni said. "He's our right-hand man down there."

The church's next mission trip will take place in March 2025, and the initiative is helmed by Boni's husband, Dan Henry. Dan's brother, Dave Henry, is a retired pastor who resides in North Carolina, and the two men typically recruit volunteers for mission trips from both of their respective congregations.

The church is always accepting volunteers to support its efforts in Tamshiyacu. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call Dan at 717-381-9947.