Happy Hand-Made Holidays! Arts & Craft Extravaganza Benefits Meherrin Fire & Rescue Department

By Community members gathered at the Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department to buy and sell a variety of arts and crafts at the Holiday Craft Extravaganza. The coordinators of the event were Department Secretary Ashley Nash and EMS Captain-507 Sally Pyle. The event was open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All community members had the option to participate in selling their crafts. Some of these vendors included Greenhouse Florist, Faith’s Creations, Four Kids Fudge, Theresa’s Crochet & Craft House, Jamberry Nails, Tupperware, Pampered Chef, Glass by Diane, Little Night Owl, Thirty-One, Avon, Damsel In Defense, Rada Knives and Art by Venus.

“We advertised through … Facebook and got vendors, and then some people just called and asked. A lot of it was by word of mouth … people who knew other people,” said Nash.

The extravaganza was held in two different rooms, but both rooms were packed with vendors and buyers. People walked around looking at a variety of holiday gift options including jewelry, paintings, wreaths, scarves, purses, belts, blankets and handmade tables.

In addition to vendors selling their arts and crafts, the extravaganza also included a bake sale, a silent auction and concessions. Among these concessions, one of the more popular refreshments was a homemade stew.

According to Nash, other ladies involved with Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department used to host a similar craft show about three or four years ago, but it fell by the wayside in the past few years. Nash said she and Pyle decided to put the Holiday Craft Extravaganza together because they really wanted to help the fire department out and were looking for other means of fundraising.

All proceeds from the event benefit Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department and are planned to go toward the purchasing of new equipment and the maintenance of current equipment.

Nash and Pyle began planning the Holiday Craft Extravaganza in July and were working diligently for the past four months to make it into a successful fundraiser for the fire department. They did not do it alone, though; they had the help from other members of the fire department as well.

Nash said, “Most of the department has helped in some way, whether it’s baking items or being a vendor or helping in the kitchen with the stew.”

In one of the rooms, the Bingo Hall, people were able to enjoy stew and make bids for items in the silent auction. Some items that could be bid on included free movie passes, various Christmas decorations and kitchen bowls.

Nash described the turnout for the fundraiser as being “pretty good.” She said the vendors seemed to be “doing well,” which was good. Community members can expect to see the Holiday Craft Extravaganza again next year and should keep watch for future fundraisers to benefit Meherrin Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department.