Those looking for a head start on buying their children Christmas gifts will have a prime opportunity in early December.
Local, handmade items sold to help raise money for art programs and other activities at South Whidbey Elementary School will be plentiful at the upcoming third annual Parent Teacher Association Handmade Holiday Market on Dec. 5. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
The fundraiser will use money gained from the event to provide art supplies for the volunteer art docent program at the elementary school, as well as finance buses for school field trips, support free family fun nights with movies and games, and provide grants for classrooms and teachers.
The art program, in which parents and volunteers lead artistic activities in classrooms twice a month, was established by the school’s PTA. Because the school district cannot afford to pay art teachers at the elementary school, the program aims to fill that gap.
The bazaar-style market will feature hand-crafted wares from more than two dozen vendors, most of whom reside on Whidbey Island. The vendors will also include the families of students enrolled in the South Whidbey School District.
“It’s always cool to bring the community to the school,” said fifth-grade teacher Pam Muncey. “We have a lot of talented families and what a great way to have them be able to share their crafts and support a worthy cause.”
Items to be sold at an affordable price will include character hats, up-cycled furniture, home decor, beach wood art and decor, Christmas ornaments, holiday decorations, boot cuffs, scarves, superhero capes, crochet hats and more.
There will also be sewn items for children and adults such as novelty hats, head warmers, head bands, and other gift items like Seattle Seahawks-themed accessories and sewing kits.
Free children’s activities provided by the PTA will be available. Planned is a photo booth where kids can snuggle up next to their favorite movie characters. Last year, kids took photos with a sewn version of Olaf from “Frozen,” crafted by PTA Vice President Kymy Johnson.
Johnson created the fundraiser and organizes the event. She’s also been a volunteer with the art docent program for four years. It’s a big motivation, Johnson said, when she sees the eyes of students light up when volunteers come into classrooms to hold art sessions.
“There (are) a lot of kids who struggle in other areas academically or socially, but when you sit down and give them an art project, they can just do it,” Johnson said. “There’s no wrong way to do art. To watch kids, it’s empowering and inspiring. It’s really important we have that.”
Organizers hope to raise $1,000 this year, after raising $400 in 2014.
Michelle Graham, fundraising chair of the South Whidbey Elementary PTA, said because many of the items are family-friendly and geared as presents for kids, this event sets it apart from others like it.
“Last year, there was one vendor that had all these really fun hats and stuff that were all perfect for kids,” Graham said. “They were villains and princesses and very elaborate and well made.”
“This year it’s going to be even bigger with more people. It’s a great fundraiser for us as a school and will help us bring awareness to our art docent program,” she added.
The PTA is still accepting vendor applications until Dec. 3 or until spots are filled. Booths are $15 or $25. If interested contact Kymy Johnson at kymy@whidbey.com.
