Two weekend craft shows will give people a chance to do some holiday shopping and support local students and the community at the same time.
The Seymour Special Education Parents Advisory Council will have its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion annex in Seymour.
And from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, the Crothersville FFA chapter invites the public to its annual craft show in the school system gyms to raise money for the group’s toy and food drive next month.
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There is no charge for admission to either show, and lunch will be available at both. The American Legion Auxiliary will serve food, snacks, drinks and desserts at the legion, and FFA members will sell grilled pork burgers, chili and baked goods.
More than 50 tables of arts and crafts, some made by residents with disabilities, will be featured. Items will include handmade jewelry, candles, candies and baked goods, hand-sewn and quilted items, paintings, wood crafts, ceramics, Christmas decorations, doll clothes and more.
Proceeds from the SEPAC event go to support local scholarships to students with disabilities or those pursuing a career in special education and to provide materials and technology to special education classrooms in Seymour.
The group works to increase recognition and understanding of children and adults with special needs. The goal is to promote awareness through activities and to develop positive attitudes and appropriate concerns in parents, families, students, school faculty and the community, said Beth White, SEPAC president.
Anyone wanting to reserve a booth at the SEPAC craft show should call White at 812-445-3815.
This is the 20th year for Crothersville’s craft show, and over the years it has grown to include as many as 90 vendors from the area, including Seymour, North Vernon, Brownstown and Scottsburg.
The Crothersville high school and elementary school choirs will perform holiday music, and Santa is scheduled to make an appearance.
Besides the variety of vendors, there also will be a silent auction with one-of-a-kind items that would make great gifts, said Madison
Isenhower, FFA member and craft show chairwoman.
“It’s overwhelming, but it’s awesome at the same time,” Isenhower said of planning and organizing the event.
All booth rental fees and proceeds from the auction and pork burger sales go to purchase toys and food that are delivered to around 100 families in Crothersville and Vernon Township before Christmas. The FFA chapter tries to raise around $10,000 for the toy and food drive, with the craft show bringing in around $2,000 each year.
The past couple of years, FFA members have delivered more than six tons of food during the toy and food drive.
The group also puts together more than 150 fruit baskets for senior citizens, shut-ins and those in the community who recently have lost loved ones.
Those attending the Crothersville craft show also can help support the toy and food drive by bringing donations of nonperishable food items and new or gently used toys. Boxes will be set up at the entrance to collect donations.
Besides the money, the event also serves as a way to help FFA members improve their organizational and communication skills.
“The backbone of FFA is agriculture, but our primary focus is leadership,” Crothersville FFA adviser Linda Begley said. “When they get done with the craft show, they know that they’ve accomplished something.”
Anyone interested in having a booth or donating items for the silent auction should contact Begley at 812-793-2051 or Isenhower by email at misenhower@
crothersville.k12.in.us.
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Seymour Special Education Parents Advisory Council’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Market: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion annex in Seymour
Crothersville FFA craft show: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Crothersville Community Schools gymnasiums
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