The gym at McDowell Elementary School was packed full of overflowing tables Saturday as vendors from across the region gathered for the second in-person rendition of the Pontiac Artisans Market since it began in 2020.

Natasha Beardsley of Bristol Bee Honey, one of the organizer’s of the event, said that all the proceeds from the vendors’ table fees go towards the McDowell Home and School Committee. Over 35 vendors took part in the market’s biggest ever year and approximately $1,300 was donated from table rentals.

“I love in-person because I love interacting with people and I think that a lot of vendors feel that same way,” Beardsley said. “I think customers were ready for the in-person markets to be able to touch the products and engage with vendors again.”

Shauna McKenna, one of the younger vendors at the market, has sold her homemade felted greeting cards, made using wool from her own sheep, for three of the four years it’s been organized.

“It’s really nice that people come back and tell me where they sent the cards, like to Sri Lanka or New Zealand or Switzerland,” McKenna said. “They go all over the world which is really neat.”

This year, the committee also used the event to collect funds for the school’s snowsuit fund.

“Families that need snowsuits fill out the forms and send them back, all confidentially,” said Heather Sally, president of the committee, noting that 10 kids are in need this year. “With the funds, we’re trying to get them a full snowsuit, boots, and hats and mitts.”

The committee collected approximately $300 through a 50/50 draw and donations that will go towards purchasing snowsuits for those students. This final amount was given a significant boost when the winner of the 50/50 draw decided to donate their prize money to the cause.

“We live in a fantastic community that gives back all the time,” Sally said. “They have always come out and helped, either donating things or helping raise money.”