By Joan Zombek
Thanksgiving was later than usual this year, resulting in fewer shopping days before Christmas. That sobering fact made the Seton Women’s Society annual Holiday Bazaar a particularly attractive destination the first weekend in December. The two-day event (and its countless days and hours of advance preparation and planning) culminated in the Society surpassing their year’s goal for fundraising.
Like previous bazaars, the ladies energetically and strategically applied their combined marketing, merchandising, designing, crafting, quilting, sewing, cooking, and baking skills in new and different ways to expand their home-grown inventory. There were ample baked goods and other items that were raffled or sold thanks to the eager participation of parishioners. St. Vincent de Paul members helped staff the event, and security was provided by the Sun City Posse. Widespread advance publicity to neighboring parishes and other local Christian congregations and community centers was accomplished by way of posters and bulletins, and a local radio station also carried the information on the air for its listeners.
The scene was festive with seasonal decor and recorded music, with the tables arranged in a large, open rectangle to allow easy access and flow around the skillfully arranged merchandise. New, semi-precious, gently used, and seasonal jewelry adorned one side, while attractive healthy potted plants of many varieties and sizes were very inviting on another side. Colorful and masterfully crocheted and knitted blankets, baby sweaters and other assorted hand-crafted items adorned other tables. In a separate area, Mrs. Claus’ Bake Shop offered a large array of tempting and home-made seasonal delights, including cookies, cakes, pies, and candies. The Holiday Treasures Gift Shop was filled with items suitable for gifting as well as seasonal home and tree décor, and our parish commemorative jubilee ornament was also available for purchase.
Feeling lucky? There were numerous opportunities to win prizes by chance. The stage was the setting for sixteen themed baskets with names such as “I Feel Pretty,” “Let’s Have Margaritas,” and “Cake or Cookies, What’s Your Pleasure?” to name a few. A massive Holiday-Dinner Basket filled with numerous side-dish ingredients, accompaniments and wines, and a gift certificate for the main dish was available, as well as a 50/50 raffle for those whose preference was cash.
Delicious smells emanated from Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen (she was a busy lady!) where several varieties of breakfast muffins were served to early shoppers along with hot beverages. Hungry lunchtime shoppers were offered a choice of sloppy joes or chicken salad sandwiches, both accompanied by potato chips and pickles.
An almost steady stream of cheerful, smiling, holiday-ready parishioners and community residents expressed their approval with their wallets and credit cards. At the event’s conclusion, the winners’ names were announced for the raffle items, and every item was claimed without delay by a delighted recipient.
When our parish manager announced that a portion of the proceeds would be used to fund some much needed and awaited kitchen improvements, you could hear the unanimous sounds of approval from the Seton Women’s Society members!
