What began as a small effort to raise funds for a local school has grown into a wildly successful endeavour sought after by artisans and anticipated by holiday shoppers.
The Riverside Arts and Crafts show had humble beginnings. In 1990 there were just 13 vendors, a white elephant table with yard sale-type wares, a bake sale and a book fair. Despite its small size, the event raised approximately $4000 for the old Riverside Public School’s library, said Inga Craig, Riverside’s head secretary.
By 1993, when the current school was built, it had already become a popular event so organizers took advantage of the space to increase the number of vendors to 50 and added a raffle table. It still wasn’t enough. Five years ago, they expanded out of the gym and into the school’s hallways to accommodate another 30 vendors and the sale still has a waiting list of hopeful artisans.
“It has just kept growing and growing,” said Craig. The fundraiser now nets the school about $10,000 per year from table rentals, the raffle table, a bake sale, snack sales, and a silent auction of themed baskets created by Riverside students.
It’s an enviable sum at a time when schools are under a budget crunch. The funds raised have been used to purchase cross-country ski equipment, snowshoes, maple syrup equipment, smart board technology for the classrooms, playground equipment, scripts and supplies for the school’s annual musical, and books for the annual Battle of the Books. They also brought in motivational speaker Chris Koch – who was born without arms and legs – to share his message, “If I can…”
“All of the money raised benefits students,” said Craig. “Next year we’re planning to install another swing set and a community garden to supply vegetables for our breakfast program. And the winter equipment requires upkeep – a minimum of five times each winter the students go over to our 40 acres across the road to use the skis and snowshoes. We also purchase wood to burn to make maple syrup.”
This year’s Riverside Arts and Crafts Show runs November 14 and 15.
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