Our Lady of the Lake will host its 14th annual Craft Bazaar December 2 from 3 to 6 p.m. and December 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The event which began as a way for parishioners to support each other has become a way for the church to give back to the community.
With booth fees and a raffle, which gives everyone a good chance of winning something, the church donated over $3000 to Lincoln Trail’s Give Me 5 program in the last two years. Give Me 5 supports students at Lincoln Trail who are in situations where they may not have access to food over the weekend.
Event organizer, Patti Glumac said Mahomet is often looked upon as being an affluent, bedroom community, but she hopes to educate parishioners and community members that there is need within the school district, too.
“The current poverty rate in the district is 19.8 percent,” she said. “Twenty-percent is a significant number, and I think it takes a lot of people by surprise.”
“I just don’t think people realize the extent of the need in our community,” she said.
The bazaar will feature booths full of Christmas decorations and gifts, scarves, wreaths, candy, stained glass, handmade furniture, painted signs, jewelry, log candle holders, baby quilts and booties, original artwork, stone cutting boards and a few at-home businesses alongside the raffle and bake sale.
“It started out as fellowship, but it’s branched out to be so much more than that,” Glumac said. “It’s become a community event where Our Lady of the Lake can be visible to the community and give back by helping people outside the church.”
