Holiday Bazaar Helps Support Those in Need

The Colton Women's Club (CWC) held its annual Holiday Bazaar two weekends ago, to raise funds that will go right back into helping the group continue to help their community. Over 20 vendors gathered at the Colton Women's Club clubhouse on Dec. 7, displaying everything from handmade jewelry to handmade quilts to Mary Kay makeup and other beauty products, and inviting local shoppers to purchase gifts for their loved ones and friends in time for the holiday season. Local community advocate, Dr. Luis Gonzalez — "Dr. G" — provided the soundtrack for the event, which spanned from the mid-morning to early afternoon hours. Olivia Fredricks has been a club member for just over a year and came to support the CWC by selling Mary Kay makeup. Members Judy Dishaw and Lauri Edwards have both been members of the CWC for a year and set up a table to inform locals of the work the club has done in eliminating needs throughout the world. After joining the club last year, Dishaw and Edwards were sponsored by the CWC to travel to Mexico and help with the La Damas de La Salina Helping Hands organization. "Laurie and I help with the yearly yard sale that helps the school," Dishaw said. "They raised $1,700 in June from the yard sale this year. The community there is really good about supporting this cause. Laurie and I also help with the monthly food bank. The club members gives us food donations, school supplies and used clothing that we take to Mexico. The food bank there in Mexico provides beans, rice and flour. The helping hands committee supplements the rest with canned goods, fresh produce and anything else they can get from the community." Ruth Cervantes, the club's publicity chair, shared she was proud of the event turnout and plans to assure the events return next year. “Our purpose is to support the community and that is the reason why we are all here,” she said, explaining that the funds raised through vendor space fees will go toward helping the club provide services to those in need in the area, who are most often times children. Club President Peggy Reagan said, "I'm proud of the support we have had and the wonderful turnout of the bazaar."