The fourth annual Nativity Festival, held Sunday at the First United Methodist Church, drew good attendance and raised more than $5,000 for the Greene County affiliate of Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity. The total may top $7,500 with some donations yet to be received.
More than 60 unique nativity sets were on display, in all sizes and in media ranging from metal and ceramic to crochet and plastic canvas. Cindy Durkopf of Carroll shared sets from her collection for the first time, and Kathy Walker once again displayed several from her collection. In all, 25 area residents had their cherished nativity sets on display.
The Nativity Festival concert drew about 180 persons for a variety of music. Harry Ahrenholtz, president of the board of directors of Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity, was emcee. High school seniors David Petersen and Danielle Johnson both sang solos, as did 85-year-old Doyle Carlson. Gary Haupert was a soloist, Danille Curtis and Pastor Julie Poulsen played a duet on the church’s new piano, and Tori Riley read an original poem written for the event. The Joyful Noise women’s choir from the First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson and a combined choir from First United Methodist and Central Christian Church sang. The concert ended with a massed community choir directed by Sheilah McGregor Pound.
Members of the Greene County High School Interact Club helped serve a soup supper in the Fellowship Hall following the concert. Donations were accepted at the nativity display, the concert, and the supper.
As the diners finished their meal auctioneer Dale Higgins, assisted by Teresa Mobley and Angie Jewett, began a live auction of 14 pies donated by renown bakers around the county. Homestead Bakery and Uptown Café also donated pies. The most coveted pies were a raspberry pie baked by Pam Thomsen that sold for $240, and a Missouri peach pie baked by Marianne Carlson that went for $230. A Marianne Carlson raspberry cheesecake netted $275 for Habitat. The pie auction brought in a total of $2,350, with a silent auction of nativity sets and a child’s rocking chair adding another $290 to the coffers.
Habitat associate director Jeff Lamoureux complimented the committee for their work to create “a great event.” “The concert lineup was fantastic, there were more than 60 unique nativity sets on display from around the world, the soup supper really hit the spot, and then we topped it off with some amazing pies. It was a wonderful day and I thank everyone who made it possible.”
Habitat for Humanity in 2015 completed four Helping Hands home repair projects and a major home renovation project in Greene County. Major support for the Helping Hands program comes from the Greene County Community Foundation, the Greene County board of supervisors, and donations from service clubs, churches, businesses and individuals.
