St. Nicholas Market benefits local nonprofits
By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos courtesy of CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
They have visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, and are ready to make spirits bright. Yes, volunteers with Christ Episcopal Church are already thinking of all things Christmas as they prepare for their second annual St. Nicholas Market.
“Our idea is a gift to the community,” event organizer Ami Hooper said. “We’re a market with a mission.”
St. Nicholas Market began as a church Christmas shop to help benefit local non-profits. It became so popular within the church that they decided to expand and invite the community to the two-day event.
“You never know how it will be the first year, but as soon as the doors opened, people were just flooding in,” Hooper explained.
Event organizer Sharon Murphy said the vendors at the market will be selling handmade items, and shoppers can find just about anything they may be looking to buy for the Christmas season. She said last year’s vendors sold baked goods, homemade jellies, wreaths, hand-carved ornaments, pet treats and more. This year’s event already has more than 30 vendors lined up. The market will also include a visit from good ole’ Saint Nick. Santa will be available for photos with little ones and furry friends.
“I think what I like the most about it is that it brings the community in. Just seeing the people,” Murphy added. “That’s why we did it.”
Murphy said they wanted to make sure vendor space would not be too expensive for the local vendors. They charge vendors $1 per square foot of space, meaning a 10×10-foot area would be $100. They also rent tables for vendors to use. Vendors also sometimes choose to donate a portion of their own proceeds to the church. All proceeds the church receives is then donated back to the community. The outreach the market supports is determined by the priest and vestry. During their first year, proceeds went to support Feed My Sheep.
“Sharon and I asked that whatever outreach the priest and vestry decide to donate it to, it has to be local to Bell County,” Hooper explained. “I love that we go out all over the world, but we want our dollars to stay right here in Bell County, to impact people right here.”
IF YOU GO
St. Nicholas Market at Christ Episcopal Church
300 North Main Street, Temple
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 3
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4
https://www.stnicholasmarket.org
