J.D. POTIÉ
QUYON Nov. 11, 2019
Although it wasn’t a school day, Onslow Elementary was . . .
filled to capacity on Saturday, as over 100 people and 30 vendors gathered for the school’s 11th annual Christmas Craft Show.
Organized by the school’s Home and School Committee, the event was an opportunity for locals to check items off their shopping-lists early while raising funds for a good cause.
As the school’s most significant annual fundraiser, the event typically brings in around $6,000, according to the event’s main organizer Stacy Johnston.
“A lot of the community comes out,” she said. “You get people from all over.”
Boasting nearly 40 local vendors, the event featured kiosks in three classrooms with many others filling the gymnasium.
Among other things, it offered a seemingly endless assortment of homemade products from local entrepreneurs, including fresh baked goods, designer clothes and festive Christmas decorations.
Kids even got an opportunity to meet and greet Santa Claus, who made the trip to town for the special occasion.
Inside the canteen, a team of volunteers served up bowls of homemade chili, steaming soups and hot dogs to keep the shopper’s appetites satisfied.
“It’s always a big hit,” she said. “Everyone likes homemade stuff and it always goes.”
All the food was provided and prepared by members of the Home and School Committee, Johnston said.
All the funds raised from the event, from the canteen sales to the vendor’s registration fees will go towards subsidizing a music program at the school, with intentions of hiring a part-time music teacher and to purchase ukuleles for students to learn on, Johnston said.
