Brownstown holiday shopping is back

The Brownstown Holiday Open House returns this year, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. this Saturday in the Brownstown Elementary School cafeteria.

And this year, in addition to getting some of their Christmas shopping done, area residents can help some less-fortunate children have a better Christmas.
How It Began
Four years ago, in 2013, Tammy Barker and some friends were talking about how much fun it would be to have a vendors fair in Brownstown, giving area residents option to shop for the holidays without all the travel.
This would especially be ideal in the event of cold weather, rain, snow and ice, creating hazardous driving conditions.
They put together a vendor fair, which was held that first year in just one room but offered gifts suitable for all ages and lifestyles; foods, including decorative cookies; services such as photography; jewelry; personalized items; and purses.
The hometown holiday shopping event attracted people from not only the Brownstown-Sefton area, but also from other towns.
It continued to grow each year due to outstanding support of the community, and the need soon became obvious for a larger facility and larger parking lot.
The Holiday Open House is now held at the Brownstown Elementary School, with plenty of parking space available.
Plus a New Opportunity …
… to give some children a Merry Christmas through Operation Christmas Child.
This year, they are adding something new, a drop box for Operation Christmas Child at the entrance.
Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an International relief organization.
The goal is to provide shoeboxes filled with toys, hygiene items and school supplies, as a means of reaching out to children in their own communities with the work of Christ and his people.
These gifts are shipped outside the United States to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease, and to children on Native American reservations in the United States.
It is the hope of Tammy that “not only will people do their holiday shopping locally while sponsoring vendors from the area, plus have several chances to win one of more than 30 prizes, that they give back to a child somewhere around the world.
“I hope those attending will bring items of donations such as small toys for all ages,” she said.
Suggested Shoe Box Items….
… for ages 2-4, 5-9 and 10-14 include toys, games, puzzles, art supplies, hats, gloves, sunglasses, matchbox cars, dolls, stuffed animals, balls, toothbrushes, hair accessories, socks, T-shirts, playing cards, dry paint sets, glue sticks, scissors, lip balm, Play-Doh and tool kits.
Gifts need to be small enough to fit with other items in a shoebox.
Things that would be accepted include: items of a liquid nature, such as toothpaste; candy; pocket knives; and war toys.  
Tammy and Her Friends…
… hope to see you there Saturday, along with your neighbor, to make this a community affair.
Vendors
Sentsy-Cindy Hicks
The Cookie Shack- Chrystal Spicer & Ruth Ann Stewart
Mary Kay-Tammy Barker
Mary’s Kitchen-Mary Brown
Young Living-Jennifer Barker
Photo lettering-Jamie Smith
Origami Owl-Sarah Orrell
Your Damsel Pro-Becky Wilson
Chic Bowtique-Ashton Smith & Adrienne Kinney
Diana’s Barkery (Barkery puppy treats)-Diana Miller
Tastefully Simple-Judi Belle
Lularoe /Amber’s Art-Amber Wehtle
Avon /children’s storybook author-Amy Pittenger
Stormy’s Custom Signs-Stormy Dilley
Trixie’s Trinkets-Martha Logston
Hope’s Crafty Creations-Hope Campbell
Just Yarnin’-Dana Dann
BumbleBee Rose-Judy Dilley
Tupperware-Sarah Beasley
Off The Barn-Jon Washburn
Lipsense/Hooded towels-Stacy Austin
Perfectly Posh/Younique-Breann Milano
Usborne Books/Paparazzi-Jo Wilkerson
Premier jewelry-Shelia Dickenson
Bling It On Boutique- Mary Mason
Fayette County Cancer Fund-Amy Newsom/Janet Elam
Chalk Couture-Karen Baylis
Sewing Creations-Marilyn Dial
Color Street Stylists-Meredith Stewart
Sue’s Doll Clothing & Hats-Sue Austin

Some of the vendors at the Brownstown Holiday Open House event this Saturday are pictured above. In front are Jennifer Barker, Cindy Hicks and Diana Miller. In the second row are Tammy Barker, Stacy Austin, Mary Mason and Judy Dille