Craft show to raise money for SBHS

Event doubles as Christmas shopping opportunity and fundraiser

By: Bill Greenwood
   The Project Graduation program at South Brunswick High School wants to help residents get a jump on their Christmas shopping.
   The organization will hold its second annual craft show Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the high school, according to a district press release.
   Judy Chirico, the event’s creator and coordinator, said there will be 78 crafters and vendors from the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area on hand selling a large variety of items, including handmade doll clothes, bandanas for dogs, chocolate and jewelry.
   "It’s one-stop shopping," Ms. Chirico said. "You can get a big start on your holiday shopping, and you can avoid the malls."
   The event will also feature a Tricky Tray auction, in which attendees will be able to purchase tickets and place them in the raffle basket of the prize they hope to win. It will cost $5 for 26 tickets, and about 20 prizes will be given away every hour, Ms. Chirico said.
   She said that every crafter or vendor at the show donated one item to the auction.
   There also will be a door prize raffle that every visitor will be able to enter for free, according to Ms. Chirico.
   Upon entering the event, attendees will be given a ticket, which they can place into the basket of the door prize they would like to win. The prizes are selected from among all those donated to the Tricky Tray auction.
   The event will also feature a bake sale and the Craft Show Café, which will serve breakfast and lunch food throughout the day, Ms. Chirico said.
   Admission to the event is free.
   All proceeds from the raffles, the bake sale, the café, and the sale of spaces for crafters and vendors, which cost anywhere from $30 to $50 with a $5 charge per table, will benefit Project Graduation.
   The organization throws an alcohol- and drug-free party for high school seniors after the graduation ceremony, according to Ms. Chirico.
   She said last year’s craft show earned about $4,000 for the organization, and this year, she would like to double that.
   The group needs to raise around $45,000 to $50,000 for this year’s party.
   "(The party) keeps our kids safe on one of the most memorable moments of their life but also one of the biggest party nights of their life," she said. "It’s a time of celebration. This is a great opportunity because it gives the kids the chance to party all night, and the parents don’t have to worry."
   Ms. Chirico said all crafter and vendor spaces have been filled for this year, but anyone who would like to be put on the mailing list for next year’s craft show can send an e-mail to [email protected].
   The e-mail should include name, mailing address and a description of the crafts to be shown.
   Volunteers are still needed to help with the bake sale, the café, the auctions, set-up and cleanup, and monitoring the halls. Anyone who would like to volunteer can send an e-mail to the address listed above.
   "For everybody to do a little bit of a part helps in the end so much," Ms. Chirico said.