Gift baskets are arranged on the pews of the Community Church of Francestown in advance of Saturday’s penny sale and cookie walk fundraiser for the church.
“I worked til 11 last night, and we’re halfway there,” organizer Cher Barker said, describing the process of creating and arranging the raffle baskets. The church community donates homemade, new, and lightly used items including handicrafts, food, books, and jewelry, and Barker arranges the donations into themed baskets. Each basket is gift wrapped, and there are baskets themed for kids, moms, dads, friends, and grannies – there are some repeats among the 101 offerings, Barker said.
Participants can purchase raffle tickets to enter to win specific baskets. Tickets are $1 apiece – although Barker said they were closer in cost to the “penny” in the event’s name when she first joined the congregation – and basket recipients are determined by a drawing at 1 p.m. She said some neighbors bid $100 in tickets to ensure they can bring home multiple baskets as Christmas gifts.
“It’s a little like gambling in the sanctuary,” Barker laughed, describing the strategizing some attendees employ.
Barker described the event as a fun, family-oriented activity, and an opportunity for community and shopping. Visitors can purchase and fill boxes of homemade holiday cookies at the concurrent cookie walk, and sit and visit with one another while partaking in a free soup and wassail lunch. Knit and crocheted hats and other crafts by members of the congregation will be on sale as well.
The event’s proceeds benefit the church.
“Most money goes to outreach,” Barker said of her 20-person congregation. “We put our mandate into action, and go out and serve.” This season, the church is “busy sending clothes and stuffed animals to the border” in McAllen, Texas, as well as distributing food donations to needy households in Francestown’s village. Barker said members of the congregation also go caroling to the homes of twenty shut-ins during the Christmas season.
The event is semi-annual, Barker said, and she organizes springtime penny sales as well.
Tickets cost $1, or 11 for $10. Large cookie boxes are $12, small boxes are $8. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., contact Barker with questions at 547-6866.