Shoppers turn out for ML church's 2nd annual Hollyfaire event

By CARA LORELLO

Staff Reporter

When Lake City Assembly of God's head of women's ministry Cala Noble started planning for the church's Hollyfaire art and craft show last September, there was some concern the turnout and funds raised would be less in the wake of the country's financial crisis that's been especially hard on local families' budgets.

Those worries were all but dashed last Saturday, as Hollyfaire launched its second run to a busy turnout bringing in about the same number of vendors and shoppers as last year. Noble and a group of church volunteers started the newspaper and radio advertising two months in advance, and were a bit surprised when vendors started replying in the numbers they did.

Twenty vendor tables filled the church's gymnasium used for the children's church activities to capacity on Saturday, about half of them ones from the previous year.

The turnout, Noble said, was more than most expected.

“We didn't know how many people would come, or have money to spend,” Noble said, who along with husband and church senior pastor Dennis Noble, ran their Lewiston church's art and craft fair for 12 years straight, managing up to 120 vendors every year. Having organized events like Hollyfaire before, Noble said the benefit of a one-day fundraiser that raises enough money doesn't affect the church's tax-exempt status.

“My philosophy is to do a couple of things a year instead of a whole bunch of little things; it's easier, and it pays for itself. We expect to clear about $1,100 to 1,200 this year like we did last year,” Noble said. All the money goes to supporting the church, particularly the women's ministry that does mission projects throughout the year from community charity events, like a free spa day, donations to Spokane's Sally House and other events.

“We had over 200 women [many being non-members of the church] at our spa day, a lot of them ones who otherwise couldn't afford to go to a spa,” Noble said.

Holding a holiday event early in the season is typical at the church, whose schedule gets pretty busy—like families schedules do—the closer it gets to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“People are more likely to have time to come, and maybe spend some. It works better for us,” Noble said.

Shoppers must have agreed last weekend, as the church gym kept busy until late afternoon. Visitors surveyed a wide range of products from baked goods and crafts to glassware and ornaments.

Helen Lancaster and her friend Cori of Spokane drove the distance to Medical Lake to shop the local bazaars in search of lefsa, a traditional soft Norwegian flatbread made out of potato, flour and dairy that's cooked on a griddle. Their search led them to Hollyfaire, and found it they did at the church's baked goods table, where Lancaster bought three $5 bags.

“Christmas is not Christmas without lefse,” Lancaster said.

Kelly and Veronica, both residents of Fox Hollow, left with a multi-piece China set with a Nativity theme, along with a few pairs of hand-knit baby boots to give out as presents for her co-workers at Michael Anderson Elementary School where “someone's always having a baby.”

“That was my big purchase,” Kelly said of the China set, adding that getting an early start on this year's shopping list is something she expects a lot of people will do to stretch their dollars through to the end of the year, possibly saving a little here and there.

Some of Hollyfaire's vendors agreed, as shoppers didn't appear to be just browsing. People are being cautious, but they're doing an equal amount of spending too, vendor and Cheney businesswoman Jenine Miller said.

Miller, along with husband Jim, run a local bee farm, Millers' Homestead, selling jarred natural honey, equipment, supplies, beauty products, and also teach beekeeping education. Miller's biggest seller on Saturday was wildflower honey. “They're coming and they're buying,” she said.

Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]