Members and friends of the Richville Church in Dora, Missouri collaborated with the Next Step Church in West Plains to build a nativity-themed float that was entered in two Christmas parades last December. The float took home two prizes, and 1,000 copies of The Great Hope by Ellen White were handed out.

The float featured Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, shepherds, wise men and angels. Church members also served as runners alongside the float to give out the books with candy canes (and the story behind the invention of the candy cane) attached.

The float won the grand prize and $150 in the Gainesville parade and second place and $200 in the West Plains parade. The Richville Church donated the grand prize money to the Ozark County Food Pantry. The second place earnings will be put in a fund to buy giveaway books for the 2016 West Plains Christmas Parade.

Diane Easterday is a member of the Richville (MO) Church.