Shop to support schools at Holidayfest
Residents will have an opportunity to
support Somers and Lakeside schools while doing their Christmas
shopping on Saturday, Dec. 4, during the 14th annual West Shore
Holidayfest.
The event, held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
in the Lakeside Elementary School gym, is hosted each year by the
Lakeside/Somers PTA with proceeds going toward Leap and Live grants
for needs at the schools that go beyond everyday classroom
materials.
The gym will be filled with arts and
crafts vendors, auction items, food and youth activities.
“The great thing about it is it has
different things for different people,” said Lisa Rinehart, who is
one of many volunteers working on the event. “There are people
selling crafts and art, but also kids’ activities for people with
young children. It’s not just for one type of person.”
Funds collected through the event,
particularly through costs to exhibitors, have in the past helped
fund plants for the school garden, science materials, SMART Boards,
music workshops, class trips, digital reading devices, a climbing
wall for the gym, fitness programs, accelerated reading programs, a
document camera and other items.
“It’s really giving the students and
the district extra advantages because of all of the community
support,” Rinehart said. “The community has really gone above and
beyond with donating items (for the event).”
About 30 exhibitors with art and
handcrafted gifts will be setting up stands in the gym featuring
items including jewelry, stained glass, quilts, wood frames,
educational puzzles and metal work.
“This stuff is not mass produced,”
Rinehart said. “This is stuff you’re not going to find at the
store.”
Both silent and live auctions will take
place featuring about 150 donated items and gift certificates from
area businesses. The live auction will be at 1 p.m., and silent
auctions will end at noon and 3 p.m.
“I have just been really heart-warmed
by how many people have said ‘yes,’” organizer Tina Lerum said of
the donations.
Several school-based groups will also
be participating in the event.
Sixth graders are selling Christmas
trees and cards to help raise money to attend Ravenwood Science
Camp.
They will also put on the donation
breakfast with Santa Claus, which will run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Santa will stick around throughout the day for photos.
This year fourth-grade students will be
selling gifts they made with proceeds going toward their ongoing
class village project.
The middle school art program will be
selling hula hoops.
Attendees will also hear musical
performances by the Lakeside Elementary School students throughout
the day.
Many activities at the event are
targeted at area youth.
The highlight of Holidayfest is the
Kids-Only Market, where children can purchase gifts for family
members for under $7 and have them wrapped at no charge.
Children can create ornaments, decorate
homemade cookies and get their faces painted.
Those who get hungry will have plenty
to snack on.
Nearly a dozen local restaurants are
participating in the Festival of Flavors during the event, which
will allow attendees to sample items off of their menus.
In addition, the food service program
in the Somers-Lakeside School District will also be providing its
usual foods including food service director Robin Vogler’s
well-loved quiches and sherbet.
Though organizers and planners have
been busy working on the event, Lerum notes that it takes the
community to fulfill its goals.
“It’s like you’ve been planning this
big party — all it takes is people to show up to make it
successful,” she said.
Volunteers are welcome for the event
and donations are always needed, including for items for the
auction. Donations for the event are accepted through Friday, Dec.
3.
For more information, call
844-3880.