Celebrating The Season With Gifts That Give Hope

BY ANN MEAD ASH

In 2021, Gifts That Give Hope founder Jenn Knepper made a few changes in the annual celebration. First, the event returned to its original venue, and second, it moved to a Sunday so that attendees could enjoy a little shopping following church. The formula was successful, and this year, the gift fair will take place on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster.

The 2022 fair will feature 45 nonprofit organizations offering environmentally friendly and ethically sourced gifts, along with food and beverages from local eateries and food trucks. Father Christmas will be present for pictures, visits, and interactive story reading, and a number of children’s authors will be on-site.

Several organizations will be at the fair for the first time this year, including the fledgling Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, which is starting a Lancaster chapter. The group held its first event at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in September. At the fair, representatives hope to offer education and raise both funds and awareness. “There have been 75 gun homicides in the last 10 years in Lancaster County,” said representative Sue Heilman, who added the group hopes to influence young people with a pledge concerning firearms.

Josiah Groff started Big Picture Soccer three years ago when he and his wife were serving at an orphanage in Juarez, Mexico. “We work with local leaders in communities in poverty,” said Groff, who now lives in Lancaster. “We give them resources and training so they are able to start soccer clubs for the youth in those communities.” According to Groff, the goal is to use soccer clubs to build character, inspire hope, and provide opportunities. Big Picture has a club in Uganda, and Groff is working to start a club in Lancaster city that will give immigrant and refugee populations opportunities to connect with the community. Attendees at the fair can help Big Picture by sponsoring teams or purchasing equipment.

When dancer Libby Shannon Miller of Lititz was killed at the age of 10 in a car accident in February, her parents, Brooke Carlock and David Miller, knew they wanted to do something to promote dance in their daughter’s memory. “(Libby) was a competitive dancer,” said Brooke. “Dance was her life and passion.”

David agreed, recalling, “She was (at the dance studio) six days a week.” Knowing the costs of lessons, costumes, and competitions, Libby’s parents decided to raise money to provide scholarships for dance students. Live Like Libby scholarships are available for eligible students as nominated by local dance studios. People who donate during the fair will support these scholarships.

Brooke said that the name was chosen based on chalk messages written by Libby’s fellow John R. Bonfield Elementary students. “It was perfect for her (because) she was so full of joy and life and kind to everyone,” said Brooke.

To learn more, readers may visit https://gifts-that-give -hope-lancaster.square.site or search for “Gifts That Give Hope: Lancaster’s Alternative Gift Fair” on Facebook.

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Several new organizations taking part in the Gifts That Give Hope (GTGH) Fair include (from left) Big Picture Soccer, represented by Josiah Groff; Live Like Libby, represented by David Miller and Brooke Carlock; and Heeding God’s Call to End Gun Violence, represented by Sue Heilman; who all worked with GTGH founder Jenn Knepper.

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