For 20 years, Huntingdon Presbyterian Church was the site of a free weekly meal for local residents. It was a way for the central Pennsylvania congregation to give back to its community while meeting a need in its neighborhood.
“Before covid hit, we would serve about 100 people,” recalled the Rev. Brett Hoover, the church’s pastor, adding that other local churches and organizations would rotate the workforce needed to prepare and serve the food. “It was a sit-down meal. That aspect of fellowship we thought was incredibly important.”
While Huntingdon Church’s Fellowship Hall no longer holds these weekly meals, once a year that spirit of giving back and fellowship is still alive and well inside the church’s walls. Each spring, the congregation holds an auction that benefits the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, annually collecting thousands of dollars for this giving opportunity that supports the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s commitment to helping communities facing challenges related to disaster, hunger, poverty, climate change, and immigration/migration and refugees.
In 2026, the auction was held on the first Saturday in May and once again included a robust flavor of local talent who donated everything from quilts and clocks to quarts of blueberries and mint chocolate brownies. The diverse number of items and craftsmanship used to create the goods impresses Brett every year.
“Just seeing that full integration of local talent for truly global impact,” Brett said, when asked what he enjoys about the auction. “I’m amazed every year. I was just blown away at the amount of local talent that’s in the congregation. Things that I would have never anticipated.
“The surprises, the depth of talent, the willingness to share it. I think that’s what gets me the most excited about the auction.”
Brett estimates the auction has been occurring for close to 30 years. It had been held annually on the Saturday before Palm Sunday, but with some members of the congregation still in warmer climates at that time, the decision was made to move the auction to later in the spring so that those out-of-towners would be back in the area and be able to contribute in one way or another.
In terms of the proceeds, Brett said collecting between $6,000-$8,000 at the OGHS Benefit Auction has become the norm.
“The amount raised is fairly consistent,” he said. “It is something that has certainly grown over the years as different traditions around the auction grew around it.
“It was one of those ideas that was raised in what we call today the Mission and Outreach Committee. It was seen as a good context for fun and fellowship in addition to raising funds for things that folks are really passionate about.”
Before the covid pandemic, the auction was combined with a fellowship dinner, enabling those to gather over a meal before heading into the sanctuary for the auction. Brett, who is in his eighth year as pastor at Huntingdon Church, is one of the auctioneers along with a few others from the congregation.
The top-selling goods are typically those produced by the congregations’ members themselves. Among them is a pan of mint chocolate brownies that was voted “Best Dessert” at the church’s potluck dinner a couple years ago. The last two years the young baker has donated a batch of these sweet treats to the auction and they sell for top dollar.
“The main items tend to be homemade or hand-crafted,” Brett said. “There will be the most competitive bidding over things like our traditional Scottish shortbread and homemade pies. We also have some really talented quilters and embroiderers who always donate some very beautiful pieces each year.
“It’s very neat because you have that sort of local focus with a mission project that has those national and global connections. I love the integration of all of that.
Mystery boxes with items like a mug stuffed with a $20 bill are available as well. Coins, collectibles and vintage postcards can also be found among the items up for bid, but there is annually a unique item that seems to be among the most coveted at the auction.
“We have another member of our church who in his semi-retirement has taken up repairing analog clocks,” Brett said. “He also has some skill with woodworking, so he’ll take the mechanics of these analog clocks and set them in new housing. Those clocks are usually really hot ticket items.
“My first year here I was just sort of amazed at all the breadth of talent that was on display. The quilt does get a good price tag, and so do the restored analog clocks.”
In 2026, $2,764 was raised through the auction items alone, the most in four years. There is also a designated giving component to the auction, increasing the auction’s total thanks to people who are either committed to the OGHS fund or who just want to support the auction. Since 2016, more than $29,000 has been raised for OGHS through the auction and donations.
“They get it,” Brett said proudly, referring to his congregation’s engagement with OGHS. “This is a good demonstration that we’re getting the understanding of our giftedness and the calling to use that giftedness for the betterment of the kingdom. It’s all of these aspects of our theology coming together.”
Combining loves like baking, sewing and woodworking into an auction that benefits responses to disasters, hunger and poverty continues to be a way Huntingdon Presbyterian Church can effectively and generously give back. It’s been a passion of the congregation for three decades and one that truly does make a difference.
“There’s certainly a manifestation of that koinonia within the body of Christ,” Brett said. “It’s a surprising community-building event. Just seeing that sharing of, ‘Yes, our gifts and talents in producing the items are bringing the items forward,’ but then the response of generosity is like this beautiful wheel of the Holy Spirit just moving continuously around. It’s remarkable to me.
“There’s a dedication and a love for this particular ministry, and that’s amazing to see, too.”