Santa was greeting kids and posing for photos. School families thronged the main entry, picking up their orders of poinsettias and ‘grinch trees,’ raising funds for the school. And the gym was crammed with vendors, offering shoppers plenty of gift ideas and treats for the holidays.
It was St. Angela Merici Catholic Elementary School’s first Christmas Bazaar, and by every measure it was a success.
The parking lots were filled, the aisles were crowded with shoppers and children, and tickets for the raffle were snapped up. Donations of non-perishable food for the Helping Hand Food Bank filled a basket and came close to overflowing.
Local businesses and families contributed prizes for a silent auction – although there were some puzzled faces, initially. Instead of the usual sheets of paper and scribbled bids, St. Angela Merici entered the digital age with an online auction.
“It’s a great turnout,” said one teacher, dressed in a holiday sweater. “Seems like everybody’s having a good time!”
There were fundraisers, crafts for the kids, snacks and treats. And for those interested, the online auction continues until Dec. 7.
