Published: October 27, 2009 11:26 pm      

Doing more than getting lost at corn maze

ACCIDENT — Getting lost in a field of corn isn’t just for fun at Cove-Run Farms corn maze; it’s also a way to help inform visitors about the Shoe Box Ministries and Operation Christmas Child.

Debbie Welch, coordinator for the Keyser area team, said the idea to use the corn maze as a promotional item for Operation Christmas Child came about a year ago when she took her home-school class to Cove-Run Farms.

“Alice Bender and I sat down during the time they were looking at design ideas for their corn maze, and I asked if she ever thought about doing something in conjunction with the Shoe Box Ministry,” Welch said. “And from there we watched the idea grow, literally, from the planting of the corn to now, and it’s been wonderful to see it all come together like it has.”

From an aerial view, the corn maze resembles a map of the six continents the shoe boxes are sent to and, at the top, the Operation Christmas Child logo. Photos can be seen at www.coverunfarmscornmaze.com. Guests who come to the farm will be able to pick up information about the program.

When the North Carolina offices heard about this promotional idea, they sent over their film crew to get material for next year’s DVD.

“The DVD is an opportunity for people who have never heard about Operation Christmas Child to really learn, in just a few minutes, what it is, what to do and how to pack a shoe box,” Welch said. “There are different segments in the video, including promotional ideas and suggestions for other communities. So this will be taken and put together in the DVD and show how the corn maze is being used to promote Operation Christmas Child.”

Bender is no stranger to this program. Through the Cherry Glade Mennonite Church, the Bender family has assembled and sent many shoe boxes for a number of years.

“Just the idea that you’re helping so many kids by sending them boxes filled with many things we take for granted is what really motivated us to do this,” she said. “It’s amazing to see how far your dollars can go. We just love this idea, kids are very special to us.”

On Sunday, the Garrett County Operation Christmas Child float was also recreated and on display at the farm.

“The team I coordinate includes Garrett and Allegany counties in Maryland as well as Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Grant and Pendleton counties in West Virginia,” Welch said. “So for this year’s Autumn Glory parade, the Garrett County team made a float which ended up winning the grand marshal award and amateur second place.”

Welch said the float was a 4-by-6.5 foot shoe box filled with oversized items such as candy, crayons and toys that are put into the shoe boxes given to the program.

“To do a shoe box, you can pack a shoe box with toys, school supplies, hygiene items, and you’ll literally change a child’s life,” she said. “These gifts are so needed in other countries and, along with these boxes, we give a gospel in their language called The Greatest Gift of All and it introduces them to Christ.”

This year Cumberland area residents who would like to participate can drop shoe boxes off at Grace Memorial Community Church on Bishop Walsh Road and Seton Drive. Drop-off times are Nov. 20, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Last year, 9,000 boxes were sent from all seven counties; this year Welch hopes to get 12,000 boxes.

For more information, visit the Operation Christmas Child’s Web site at www.samaritanspurse.org or contact Grace Memorial at (301) 777-1670.

Contact Tess Hill at thill@times-news.com.