Crafts for Charitable Causes

The 42nd annual Craft Show hosted by ESA Alpha Rho Chapter will be held Saturday, October 25, 2014. Admission is free.

Alpha Rho Chapter members at last year’s Craft Show concession stand (L to R): Sally Tucker, Paula Frerichs, Fergie Bear, Bev Schwarzkopf, and Connie Frieze.

A win-win tradition returns to Broken Arrow with the annual Epsilon Sigma Alpha Benefit Craft Show at Oliver Middle School on October 25, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s event marks the 42nd time for the Alpha Rho Chapter of service sorority ESA to sponsor the show. Each year the event showcases area craftspeople, provides fantastic seasonal shopping in Broken Arrow, and raises funds for the charities and non-profit organizations that ESA helps support. Everyone is a winner in this endeavor!

With an average of more than 100 booths representing several states in addition to Oklahoma, shoppers will find variety and creativity to appeal to every taste. Long-time craft show chairperson Nancy Stanley says, “It is always so exciting at set-up time for the craft show. One is always amazed at the creativity of our many crafters. The school seems to come alive with excitement about the upcoming show.”

Alpha Rho donates money to worthy causes at local, state and national levels. Broken Arrow Neighbors, Margaret Hudson Program, Meals on Wheels, Broken Arrow Public Schools and Clarehouse have regularly benefited in the community, while the Oklahoma Schools for the Blind and Deaf depend on financial support from this group as well. At the national level, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN has for years been a special recipient of ESA fundraising efforts. Since 2008, the Broken Arrow chapter has donated more than $4,000 to this well-known national institution. The ESA International relationship with St. Jude Hospital has flourished for over 40 years, and Alpha Rho is proud to be part of that relationship.

Highlights of the craft show include free admission, ample parking, a food concession serving breakfast and lunch treats as well as snacks, silent auction items donated by crafters, and of course a wide variety of handmade items for sale. Each year, regional crafters bring Christmas ornaments, home décor, Halloween and autumn decorations, jewelry, woodwork, pottery, stationery, needlework, and children’s items.

Booth spaces are still available for the 2014 show. The fee (for an approximately 8’ by 10’ space) is $45 plus 10 percent of sales and $3 if an electrical outlet is needed. For information and applications, contact Nancy Stanley at (918) 251-0617 or email  eat1@eau1eav1eaw1.

Alpha Rho president Paula Frerichs issues a warm invitation: “Come and join us for a day of shopping with our great crafters. You will be helping us make our goal for our philanthropic charities. We are still going strong in our 42nd year!”

 For more information, contact

Alpha Rho Chapter ESA

(918) 251-0617

eat1@eau1eav1eaw1