From left, Larry Hershman, Paul Bowers and Keven Hilty, members of the Geppetto Woodcarvers in a past Carving on the Porch at Woodcraft where the hobby is explained and work is displayed. This year’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Woodcraft. (Photo Provided)

The Geppetto Woodcarvers Club will hold its annual Carving on the Porch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Woodcraft on Emerson Avenue.

The annual event to showcase carvings and talents will include 20 woodcarvers who will display their carvings and give woodcarving demonstrations, club Secretary Patrick Wentzel said. People also can learn more about the club and about woodcarving from members.

“This is our biggest event to showcase woodcarving in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” Wentzel said.

Geppetto Woodcarvers Club was founded in 1990 by carvers to share their interest in learning and advance the hobby. Since then, the club has grown and expanded its outreach in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Meetings of the club and carving sessions are held at Woodcraft and the Club also has partnered with the Blennerhassett Museum to hold carving sessions there. Club members are available to help new woodcarvers learn more about woodcarving.

The sales station at the Warren Arts and Crafts Show where ornaments made by the carvers in the Geppetto Woodcarvers Club are sold to benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project. (Photo provided)

Among the club’s community service projects is the Salvation Army Angel Tree Project held at Christmas time. Members carve ornaments that are sold with the proceeds going to the Angel Tree Project to benefit children in need.

“Our members carve Christmas ornaments throughout the year. We offer them for sale at the Warren Craft Show each fall,” Wentzel said. “To date, we have carved and sold nearly $8,000 of Christmas ornaments. These proceeds have been used to provide toys and clothing through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program for over 40 children.”

Geppetto Woodcarvers meet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays at Woodcraft, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Blennerhassett Museum and holds its business meeting from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. second Saturdays at Woodcraft. Membership is $20 a year for a family.

The club also participates in events at the Parkersburg Art Center, the New Matamoras Fall Festival and at local woodcarving demos in addition to club lunches, outings and its annual Christmas party and picnic.

The club website is www.geppettowoodcarvers.org.

Carvers in the Geppetto Woodcarvers Club make Christmas ornaments that are sold to benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree project to benefit children during Christmas. (Photo provided)

It maintains a 150-plus volume woodcarving library and reference collection, has a monthly newsletter and has produced a carving manual to introduce and mentor new carvers to woodcarving. Members also receive a 10% discount on tools, books and carving items at Woodcraft on the day of the monthly meeting.