Shopping 4 a Cause supports local business and holiday spirit

By Kendra Simpson

St. Joseph residents had the rare opportunity to support local businesses while helping raise holiday spirits Friday evening with the Shopping 4 a Cause vendor craft fair.

The fair opened Friday afternoon with dozens of vendors selling hundreds of gifts suitable for all ages such as home-baked goods, toys, clothing items, crafts and more.

The event included food trucks and raffles for goodie baskets, fishing rods, vacations to Las Vegas and more.

The fair also highlighted several local vendors that have struggled over the past year with their sales.

Though local businesses weren’t the only ones who benefitted, as the event doubled as a toy drive for the AFL-CIO’s Adopt-a-Family program.

“There’s a lot of people that need help at this time of year,” said Nichole Faucett, the event organizer. “The Adopt-a-Family program is our cause that’s dear to our heart. So we want to collect toys, we want to help them but we also want to help all the small businesses that have really been struggling this year and help them, you know, survive a little bit better.”

Those looking to donate to the Adopt-a-Family program should consider items for older kids and teenagers, such as clothing, makeup, technology and books.

“We’ll take anything, but it needs to be a new toy,” she said. “The older kids get overlooked a little bit. And stocking stuffers, they’re always needing some stocking stuffer items.”

The Shopping 4 a Cause fair continues Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Interserv, located at 5400 King Hill Ave.