Eager shoppers at the October 24th Epsilon Sigma Alpha Benefit Craft Show may focus on finding special holiday gifts for family and friends – they may not realize that they are also bestowing gifts on grateful strangers. Sorority proceeds from the craft show become donations to charities and nonprofits at local, state, and national levels. The 43rd annual craft show, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oliver Middle School (3100 W. New Orleans) in Broken Arrow, provides much-needed funding help for Broken Arrow Neighbors, the Oklahoma School for the Blind, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, among others.
Kim Goddard, director of Broken Arrow Neighbors (BAN), describes her agency as “truly grateful” for ESA Alpha Rho’s unrestricted donations. BAN uses the funds for urgent needs such as financial help for clients with medication costs, high protein items for the food pantry, and fresh products to go in holiday baskets. The ESA/BAN partnership supports the “assistance with dignity” mission of this local agency.
Alpha Rho members also donate funds and volunteer time to the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee. Several students receive monthly spending money allowances for special extracurricular activities, and at Christmas the sorority “adopts” five students to make wishes come true when families’ budgets are stretched thin. Social Services Specialist Jane Thomas expresses gratitude for “making our children’s lives happier.”
ESA also has a 40+ year history of donating funds to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude’s Hospital, which has achieved remarkable results in treating childhood cancers, never charges a family for treatment. Alpha Rho takes pride in raising part of the $164 million that ESA has contributed since 1972 to this worthy cause.
Booth space for the 2015 craft show is still available at $50 for an approximately 8 by 10 feet display. There is a $3 fee for electricity if needed.
Email eat0@eau0eav0eaw0 or call (918) 251-0617 for more information and application requests.
Long-time craft show chair Nancy Stanley adds, “Many of our favorite crafters have signed up as well as a number of new ones.”
Shop at the wonderful craft show on Saturday, October 24, knowing that you are helping charities and nonprofits as you shop. There is no admission fee.
You’ll also find silent auction items and hot food served. “We look forward to our biggest crowd ever!” adds Nancy.
