Successful sale for Rivers Chamber

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Published on Wednesday, September 23, 2015

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

For the past 37 years, Rivers and District Chamber of Commerce has held a fall fundraiser. It began as a Shopper’s Jamboree the first week in October; 11 years later it became Crafty the Scarecrow’s Harvest of Crafts Show and Sale and finally, seven years ago, the Home and Craft Show. The all-time high was 59 tables in 2011; 44 has been the number for the last four years. 

An additional $300 was received as admission which translates to an extra 150 people or more (children are free and youth under 12 pay only $1). While support from chamber members for set-up, take down and assistance with exhibitors that day is dependent on three or four members, community-minded citizens offered their assistance when asked. But because is it promoted and paid for by chamber, and since few chamber members have worked for/at the show, there is speculation among the working members that they will not co-ordinate a similar sale in 2016. 

The sale also incorporates a food court, sponsored by Riverdale District Health Auxiliary. They too, are having extreme difficulty in finding members who are physically able to do the demanding tasks of transporting food made on-site in the second floor commercial kitchen of Riverdale Community Centre to the rink’s surface food court. (Their transportation job was made even more difficult when the elevator broke down.) One member said if it were her decision, it would be cancelled for 2016 but she realizes it is not her choice alone, but rather an organizational vote.