Harvest of Hands will meet this month on Tuesday mornings March 9 &23 at 9am and Wednesday evenings March 20 &24 at 7:15pm (after Lenten worship).
In January, volunteers completed over 15 fleece blankets for the annual sale. February projects include Shoulder Snuggies Tuesday mornings and beading on Wednesday evenings.
Harvest of Hands relies on volunteers like you produce the crafts that are sold at the annual November festival.
by Lee Ann Goerss
I love to share my passion for art with students. I find myself learning more from them and am always inspired by their imagination. Their creative spirits give witness to God, our Creator; and, Artist Extraordinaire.
I’m also thankful for the commitment and devotion of the Harvest of Hands crew, who raise thousands of dollars annually to feed the hungry locally and across the globe. When I volunteered to teach Sunday School this year, it was on the top of my list to involve my students in this mission.
So, early in the fall, I talked to my fifth and sixth grade girls about designing a project for the Silent Auction. They were very enthusiastic about their chance to “make a difference”. We partnered up with our “Sister” class at the 10:30 service. And, with a mixture of art and faith they created a colorful original entitled “Sisters in Christ”.
I am proud of the heartfelt gift of these “young” Sisters in Christ; and, I look forward to a continuing connection between Sunday School students and Harvest of Hands.
Sunday school students with their work of art for Harvest of Hands
Harvest of Hands , the annual festival and brunch organized by Zion members to benefit local and world hunger raised over $28,000 in 2009.
Funds raised through the 2009 festival will be distributed through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. A larger share will go to the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community due to the economic situation.
The morning craft group meets from 9-11am on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday in the Wilderness Room. February dates are the 9th and 23rd. Projects will include fleece blankets & “Snuggy” bed jackets.
The evening craft group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday in the Wilderness Room. On February 10 the group meets at the usual 7pm time. On February 24 the group meets at 7:15pm after Lenten worship. Projects will include beading & ornaments.
Do you have a special craft, talent, or skill that you like to do? Would you like to share that with our group? If so, please contact Joy at 763-658-6124. Participants enjoy trying new ideas and crafts. Last year volunteers learned how to make stained glass projects, crochet, and knit.
Consider joining the Harvest of Hands crew for a few hours of fun and friendship. They have a great time working on projects all through the year and would enjoy your company. If you have any questions or need supplies, please contact Joy.
By Sherilyn Burgdorf
Some of us see what’s around us and others really see the big picture of God’s creation. Zion and the Buffalo community are fortunate to have the artistic talents of Howard Burgdorf in our midst. His eye for color, design, and detail have made many spaces come to life in new ways.
Howard Burgdorf with one of the Marysville pictures he donated to the 2009 Harvest of Hands silent auction.
After growing up in the Chicago area Howard went to Bethany College (Mankato) and the University of Illinois-Urbana to study graphic arts. He’s used his creative eye to design many business publications and corporate reports through his years of studio work at the University Press in Illinois and at graphic arts studios in the Twin Cities. Imagine doing lettering for business reports by hand, one letter at a time, instead of selecting a font style and size on your computer. Imagine doing color checks in the middle of the night with printing companies to make sure every color was done correctly. Graphic arts have changed in the past years and so has Howard’s array of art.
Howard’s retirement to Buffalo meant a whole new vision. The old barns and buildings around the area, including the Marysville Church, became a focus of his art. Zion’s Harvest of Hands event is the recipient of an annual painting done by Howard for the silent auction. “Painting ‘Marysville’ for Harvest of Hands has gotten to be a tradition for me. In a small way I want to continue its 107 year witness.”
Howard also uses global trips and interest in all kinds of art to expand his “big picture” to watercolor, acrylics, chalk, sketching, sculpture, and photography. While other people take vacations to see the world at a glance, Howard sees the everyday scenes and turns them into amazing sketches: ones that are appreciated even when language is a barrier.
Howard’s paintings in watercolor, acrylic, and chalk have become favorites at the silent auction each year and even though the building doesn’t change, the paintings are unique each year. In a few months, we’ll see what Howard’s “big picture” of Marysville brings for 2010.
The 2009 Harvest of Hands Festival was a great success. Craft nights will kick off again on Wednesday evening, January 13, at 7pm in the Wilderness Room (behind the kitchen). The group will work on a beading project.
If you have any ideas for crafts, we would love to hear your ideas. If you would like to work on crafts at home and need supplies, please contact a committee member (stop by Wednesday night or get contact information from the church office).
Thanks to those who shopped at the HOH Mini-Sale on December 13. An additional $670 was raised for the for the Buffalo Food Shelf.
The Harvest of Hands Committee wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very blessed 2010 and looks forward to working with you in the new year.
Harvest of Hands is winding down another successful year thanks to your generosity of time, donations, and shopping.
Harvest of Hands Festival is an annual festival and brunch organized by Zion members to benefit local and world hunger through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
Proceeds from the November sale were $11,442.45. Thrivent and another anonymous donor are each providing an additional $1,000 in matching funds. This year an anonymous donor is providing a matching gift for the total amount raised, bringing the total this year to an amazing $26,884.90. Specific designations of these funds have not been determined yet.
The Harvest of Hand Committee would like to personally, thank each of you, but that is not possible. So, as you read this, please hear their voice: “Thank you for your contribution to such a worthy cause. It is greatly appreciated.”
Planning for the next festival has begun, and the committee is already looking for projects and volunteers for 2010. Please join other volunteers on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 9am or the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm in the Wilderness Room. The friendships, the satisfaction of a good job done, and the contribution to a needy and worthwhile cause are very rewarding. The kickoff meeting for 2010 will be Wednesday, January 13 at 7pm.
Contact Joy at 763.300.4542 with any questions about Harvest of Hands.
Harvest of Hands will have a Mini Holiday Sale on Sunday, December 13th. The Buffalo Food Shelf will be the recipient of all the funds raised that day. The mini-sale will include Christmas ornaments, holiday items, scarves, hats, lefse, and other items. Please check out the items in the Fellowship Hall.
Shoppers checking out the crafts at Harvest of Hands 2009
Volunteers arrived early on November 7 to be ready to enjoy a day of selling everything from great used items to carefully created crafts and art works. Every year we see beautiful things that make us realize the abundance of talented members of Zion.
Many rushed to buy baked goods, egg rolls, lefse and other goodies as soon as the doors opened. The omelets, crepes, rolls & coffee kept the kitchen crew very busy. A few trips to the grocery store during the morning to replenish ingredients kept everyone happy and people enjoyed visiting over coffee. Everything was displayed beautifully and it truly was a delightful shopping experience. See photos of the event here.
The final amount raised by Harvest of Hands 2009 has not been calculated yet, but is estimated at over $12,000 which will go to help many people through the Buffalo Food Shelf and the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation.
Thanks to everyone for creating and donating items, thanks to all volunteers from setting up displays to taking down tables, to Joy Arens for coordinating the event, and most of all each of you who attended the Harvest of Hands event.
Those with ideas or suggestions for next year’s event are invited to attend the wrap-up meeting at 7pm on December 9 in the Wilderness room or contact a Harvest of Hands committee member.
There are dozens of items on this year’s Harvest of Hands silent auction, and the final opportunity to bid is this Sunday morning, November 15. Don’t forget to stop by and check out the gift baskets, artworks, textiles, and crafts.
All proceeds benefit the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community and the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation to help people in need around the world.
Additional volunteers are still needed on Saturday for Harvest of Hands as cashiers (9-11am or 11am-1pm) and for clean up (1pm-?). Contact Joy Arens at 763-300-4542 to volunteer.
Just a few of the items staff have spotted so far (click to enlarge): 
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
A Brunch Tradition at Harvest of Hands
Zion’s Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion THIS Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am.
For over 30 years, Zion ’s Harvest of Hands Festival has raised thousands of dollars each year to support the hungry through the Lutheran World Federation, and more recently the Buffalo Food Shelf. The festival includes crafts, white elephants, brunch featuring made-to-order omelets & crepes, and a silent auction.
Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over to Zion for brunch and shopping. See you Saturday!
Proceeds from HOH go to local & world hunger projects
For over 30 years, Zion ’s Harvest of Hands Festival has raised thousands of dollars each year to support the hungry through the Lutheran World Federation, and more recently the Buffalo Food Shelf.
Due to the economic situation this year, a larger share will go to the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community. The balance of the proceeds will still go to the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation to help people in need around the world.
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
Helen Nelson with the lap quilts she has made for Harvest of Hands
When Helen Nelson of Buffalo Township returned from her winter home in Sun City, Arizona this May, she missed the volunteer work she does during the winter at Banner-Bowell Hospital. Helen had noted what she thought was a generous practice in the Arizona hospital; when a patient was chilled, the patient would be given a lap robe made by volunteers of the hospital auxiliary. When the patient was discharged, the lap robe also went home.
Helen’s grandmother, a resourceful North Dakota farm housewife, let nothing go to waste. After a garment was no longer wearable, it was fodder for the beautiful quilts her grandmother made. A retired Home Economics Teacher from the Minneapolis public schools, Helen had already made heirloom “Wedding Quilts” for each of her three grandchildren.
So Helen took on what she thought was a small project this summer; making a lap robe to be given to someone in need. Having finished one, she kept sewing and creating. The basement of the home she shares with her daughter, Kris, and son-in-law Mike Cruikshank, holds Mike’s pool table. Mike enjoys golf, and makes more use of the green pool table after the greens at Wild Marsh are covered with snow. Helen found a summer time use for the pool table; it was a convenient work surface for planning and working on her creations. By the time Helen was packing to go back to Arizona, she had created eleven smaller quilts.
A member of Zion Lutheran Church, Helen has donated nine of her summer creations for Harvest of Hands.
Find some treasures in the White Elephant area at HOH this year
White Elephant will be adding gently used baby clothes up to 18 months. Other treasures in the White Elephant area include housewares, home decor, books, and toys. The White Elephant area still does not accept other clothing, TVs, computers, printers, exercise equipment, and bikes.
Bring your donations to the Red Sea or Egypt Rooms (near the Youth Room) on Monday, November 2 or after.
Remaining White Elephant treasures will be for sale in the Coffee Café area on Sunday, November 8. Items still remaining on Monday, November 9 items will be donated to the Disabled Veterans.
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
Can't you just smell the home baked goodies?
Baked goods and candies are a big selling area for Harvest of Hands; please consider making something for the sale.
Please sign up to bring 5 dozen of your favorite cookies, or consider baking a couple of your favorite pies at home and donating them for sale. Cookies will be packaged for sale by volunteers at Zion. All types of baked goods and candies are welcome.
There will not be organized events to make apple pies, cookies, or candy this year. Please contact the office if you would like to reserve Zion’s kitchen for more space to bake for HOH, either alone or with a group of friends.
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
You can do one small thing right now to help Harvest of Hands raise money for the Buffalo Food Shelf and the World Hunger Appeal. Click here to print off a flyer then post it at your workplace or on a community bulletin board.
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
What can you do to help make Harvest of Hands successful again this year and maximize our contribution to World Hunger & the Food Shelf?
Volunteer sign up and continuing Harvest of Hands updates can be found in the narthex on Sundays and on the church website.
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping. All proceeds from Harvest of Hands go to the Buffalo Food Shelf to help people in need in our own community and to the World Hunger Appeal through the Lutheran World Federation to help people in need around the world.
Recycle a sweater and feed children
The Sweater Bar will return to Harvest of Hands this year. During the next few weeks bring sweaters your family no longer wears or has outgrown to the collection box in the narthex. We will wash them and have them for sale. We hope this will be a way that adults and children can buy a sweater for themselves or to give as a gift and receive a gift tag thanking them for helping children through the World Hunger Appeal.
[Update: Please bring sweaters in by Sunday, October 25, to allow time for cleaning]
The Harvest of Hands Festival will be held at Zion on Saturday, November 7, starting at 9am. Bring your family, your friends and your neighbors over for brunch and shopping.
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