By Lisa Carolin
The 13th Annual Material Girls Children’s Christmas Bazaar came back bigger and better than ever this year.
After skipping the 2020 bazaar thanks to Covid, shoppers had the chance to choose from both last year’s gifts as well as hundreds of more recently crafted items.
Shopping kicked off Dec. 2 just for kids with special needs, and was followed on Saturday, Dec. 4, when more than 200 young shoppers had the chance to peruse the appointed rooms filled with gifts at Chelsea First United Methodist Church.
The shoppers were escorted individually by buddies, who were sixth-graders and older.
Members of Chelsea’s Material Girls spend the year collecting all sorts of items that they creatively turn into clever gifts such as wind chimes, picture frames, and candle holders. Those items are divided into separate rooms at the church based on which member of the family they’re aimed at, and everything is sold for between $1.00 and $5.00.
Kelly Stoker, Material Girls president, says it’s a way for kids to be able to buy affordable, meaningful presents for family members.
She said that money made at the bazaar gets donated to Faith in Action and estimated that FIA would receive more than $13,000 from this year’s event.
