Craft fair key to keeping families warm this winter

Every Saturday from Thanksgiving through Christmas, St. David's Episcopal Church is hosting a craft fair, as well as seminars from leading professionals, in order to help families get through the winter.

Instead of putting together holiday food baskets, St. David's stays with families all winter long as a result of the funds raised through the bazaars.

While there are holiday meals included, the giving doesn't end when the holidays do.

"We adopt disenfranchised families and get them through the whole winter with the dry goods, clothing and things like that," said organizer Patricia Ortiz. "Instead of going part way, we go through the whole winter. It's to keep families together."

The money is raised through selling tables to crafters for the bazaars. Ortiz stressed that it is not a church endeavor, it just happens to be at the church, and the church uses the money for charitable purposes. All crafters are welcome to purchase tables, and the bazaars are open to everyone.

An added twist is the addition of seminars and workshops, which are free for the public as well. There is a chef from Allen Petersons scheduled to do a cooking workshop one weekend, and professional decorators will also be at a few of the bazaars offering decorating tips and hints for those in attendance.

The bazaars are scheduled for Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 11, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For more information, or to purchase a table at the bazaars, interested people can call Ortiz at (907) 441-6111. Tables cost $25 each.