Social Service League hosts 26th annual craft show

Waynesburg University

Video courtesy of WCTV, Rachel Pellegrino

It’s that time of year again. Sleigh bells are ringing and holiday themed-events are beginning.

Greene County residents welcomed the holiday season this past weekend with the Social Service League’s 26th annual holiday craft show. 

After being cancelled last year, the event returns with minor changes including a new location and COVID-19 adaptations. Even with these changes, Christine Turcheck said she was happily surprised with the event’s outcome.

“The turnout is great,” said Turcheck, co-chairperson for the Social Service League’s Craft Show. “We got a lot of positive feedback for this location. We have a lot more room. The only change that we had to do is that we don’t have our food, but the EQT is doing their concession stand, and we just did baked goods, but we have them packaged for sale.”

As stated on their Facebook Page, the Social Service League is a non-profit organization that was founded to benefit the children of the Central Greene School District

Turcheck said this event is just one of many fundraisers that the Social Service League hosts throughout the year to help disadvantaged children in the Central Greene School District.

“We have donated for a playground. We do monthly food baskets. We do Christmas baskets. If kids need clothes at school or things like that, we do anything that’s needed at the school,” she said.

Even though Social Service League hosts other fundraisers, Turcheck said the craft show is their biggest fundraiser. 

“We do this craft show every year, and we love the people that come,” she said.

Crafters and buyers came from all over to support the Social Service League and their mission. The vendors showcased a variety of hand-made items including wreaths, baby items, jewelry, food and denim jackets.

Some of the crafters in attendance have been attending the event for years. Judy Brunner, who specializes in tole painting, said she’s been attending this event for five years. She said her favorite part of the event is meeting the people. 

“The people are wonderful and I don’t have anything bad to say,” she said. “It’s fun talking to people and finding out their thoughts and what they think of things.”

With last year’s event being cancelled, Brunner was happy to be back.

“This is the first show I’ve done in over a year. So I’m happy to be here, and I’m doing very well,” Brunner said.

Other vendors such as C & C Denim were first time vendors. Cil Felix and Carol Crawford, co-owners of C & C Denim, started their business during the pandemic because it was something they enjoyed doing and could do together as friends.

“We’ve been at it just a year,” Felix said. “We decided to custom design denim jackets, make them one of a kind and put our own spin on the denim jackets.”

Even though they just started attending craft shows, their product has been well received. 

“We just started reaching out to the vendor events saying ‘hey this is our product,’ and they’re always welcoming us,” Felix said. “We find out that we’re the only vendor with jackets so that makes it really nice.”

Whether the crafters were first time vendors, like Felix and Crawford, or returners like Brunner, one thing was for certain.

“We’ll definitely be back,” Felix said.