A pre-Christmas shopping trip this weekend helps charities in the community says the Fonthill Kinsmen club.
The Fonthill and District Kinsmen Club have more than 75 artisans and crafters signed up for tables lining the halls and gymnasiums at Centennial Secondary School in Welland this Saturday and Sunday.
“We still have vendors contacting us,” said chair Dave Kuckyt.
The fifth annual Kinsmen Craft Show runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with a $3 donation as admission.
The craft show was originally operated by Women’s Place. The Kinsmen took it over five years ago when the shelter was unable to find enough volunteers. The Kinsmen applied experience from its spring Kinsmen Home and Leisure Show to the fall craft show.
Since then, the service club has donated to Women’s Place as well as other local charities such as Special Olympics, Hope Centre and Community Living from the proceeds.
Each year it makes a major donation to a community service from the $6,000 to $8,000 it retains after expenses.
The craft show features Christmas decorations, jewellery, knitting, clothing, toys and many unusual gift items from local and out of area vendors.
Judith Scott of Christmas By Design is a first-time vendor. The Welland crafter makes glass lighted blocks, bows for Christmas trees and arrangements for porches and hallways.
She is looking forward to the craft fair in the high school, one of the largest she has participated in.
Kuckyt said the show will include booths for local services, such as Girl Guides, the Humane Society, and Special Olympics, doing their own fundraising. Notre Dame College School students will have face painting for kids while Eastdale Secondary School’s culinary program will sell food.
“Everything raised goes back into the community,” said Kin public director Kevin Twomey. “At a time when the local economy is down, the need to help others goes up.”
For more information, visit www.fonthillkinsmen.ca.
