Spring sale supports local charities

“It’s very successful,” Jeannine Wolfe, event chairman, said. “People want to support local charities and they like to see (the items). Most East Tennessee, they love a craft show no matter when it is. They just want to see what’s out there. Some of them come to get ideas to make at home and some of them just want to spend.

“But whatever floats their boat, we got them in here, and most people will buy something,” she added.

Crafters meet 9:30-11:30 a.m. Mondays at the church to build inventory, with several subgroups working on a variety of projects.

The sale featured a wide range of items such as jewelry, mailbox covers, floral arrangements, greeting cards and even some knitted mittens Wolf admitted don’t sell quite as well at the spring sale.

Marcia Higby, publicity chairman, said production for the spring sale began in January, while work for the fall sale will begin a couple of weeks after Easter to give members a few weeks off. At weekly meetings, crafters are split into subgroups — knitters, needlework, card design and sowing — but everyone is welcome to give each craft a try.

“Some people will try everything,” Higby said. “We get somebody new who comes in and introduce them to each of the groups, and they try to determine whether or not this is something they want to do. They might start out with mailbox covers, painting canvas and then go to something else. They have an opportunity to try everything if they want.”

A majority of products are built from donated material, limiting the organization’s expenses. Nearly all funds raised can go toward charitable efforts in the community.

Saturday’s sale welcomed nearly 400 customers and raised $10,305 to be given to charities in Loudon and Monroe counties. Donation recipients will be chosen following the fall sale in November, with past groups supported including Child Advocacy Center of the 9th Judicial District, Good Samaritan Center of Loudon County, Iva’s Place and the Tellico Village Volunteer Fire Department.

“We have supported a lot of different charities throughout the time,” Wolf said. “Last year, charities we supported really concentrated on the theme of the economy and the inflation going up. People are having a hard time making ends meet with food and groceries, so we really concentrated on charities that supported them financially, feeding and clothing things.”

Part of the funds raised Saturday came from the event’s bake sale, which is made possible by more than just members of the crafting group. Higby said they put out a plea for baked goods, notably in the church newsletter, while advertising the event.

“We put a plea in the bulletin, we have signs, there’s screens that will advertise the crafters sale, and it says if you’re not a crafter but a baker we would love to have you donate,” Higby said. “And they’ve been doing a pretty good job. We’ve had a lot. … We could almost use another table. A lot of baked goods.”

The group will hold a garage sale 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 7, followed by a craft and bake sale 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 4. Anyone looking to learn more about or support the group is welcome to attend a weekly meetings in the church’s Christian Life Center. Donations of new or gently used craft supplies are always needed and can be dropped off during those same hours.