Bigger and better than ever for the St. Joseph’s Christmas Market

The 8^th Annual St. Joseph’s Christmas Market was held on Sunday, December 3 at the parish hall. This year’s event was jam-packed with 47 vendors signed up and a multitude of different products available to shop for including homemade baking and sweets to handmade hats, scarves, toys, jewelry, art, ornaments, and much more.

“This year’s market is our biggest market. We are very fortunate to have such great support in the community. Our Santa pictures this year were phenomenal as well.  We’ve had great participation and Click Photography did a great job,” said Dan Hein, Athletic Director at St. Joseph’s School and co-ordinator of market. “Our co-ordinator Kim Furlong, who booked the vendors and helped run the event, is fantastic!”

Each year the market helps raise funds for specific student groups within the school including sports teams and travel groups. This year, the St. Joseph’s School Costa Rica Travel Group is the beneficiary. “The group will be travelling to Costa Rica in January 2019 for a trekking and service trip. The students will be hiking volcanoes, going into the rainforests, as well as helping an indigenous village,” explained Dan.

Over the next year, students will be taking part in various fundraisers to help lessen the monetary needs of the trip on the students and parents. On top of the personal fundraising for the trip, the students also have a goal in mind to raise $4,000 to donate towards the community. “We try to find different ways to earn money. Our community is very generous, and we are so appreciative, but we want to make sure that the students work towards their trip and earn it. It’s very important to both them and us,” said Dan.

Students will be working on bottle drives including one coming up on January 14, and garbage pickups will be planned in the future as well. Anyone who wants to donate towards the new year bottle drive is encouraged to call the school at 780-778-2345.  Both pickup and delivery can be arranged.

For any businesses that may have odd jobs that students could do such as shoveling, cleaning, or projects that they could help with are asked to contact the school. “We are always looking for new and unique ways to have the kids earn money, so if there are any businesses who have any jobs that students could do, we would be very excited to take on any challenge. Merry Christmas!”