By Demelza Ramirez | Echo
When it comes to promoting a home business, setting up a craft and vendor show to raise money for charity isn't usually on the top of a person's list of ideas. For Tamee Shonk of Fairmount, this is exactly what she plans to do.
A consultant for the online food company Tastefully Simple, Shonk wanted to expand her home-based business while at the same time promoting the idea of community within her town. Experienced in organizing similar events for the area schools and annual Homemade Holidays Craft Bazaar, Shonk decided a Spring Fling would be the perfect way to get herself-and others in the area-exposed to the public.
So the Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Show was created. The theme is "A Little Help Goes a Long Way," and instead of charging an admissions fee, Shonk decided to encourage donations at the door. These donations will be split between the local food pantry and the Grant County Women's Shelter. With 22 vendors selling various items-from homemade crafts to candy and Tastefully Simple to Pampered Chef in attendance, there will be a little bit of something for everyone.
For those more inclined towards non-edible items, two of the vendors in attendance are Refunk the Junk and M&M Pickers. They take people's unwanted items, from small household items to furniture, and revamp and resell them, creating beautiful recycled pieces of art.
Shonk is also not afraid to give a shameless plug for a friend. Just down the road at 215 S. Mill St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., friend and fellow helper at Homemade Holidays Ourka Blackburn is putting on her own little spring fling, entitled "3 Sisters and Garage." There will be around eight vendors there selling homemade jewelry and crafts, according to Shonk.
"It'll work both ways," Shonk said. "I'll send people to Ourka and she'll send people me, so everyone gets something out of the day."
Even though this is the first year the show will take place, Shonk hopes the Spring Fling can grow into something bigger.
"There's so much giving at Christmas," Shonk said. "I want there to be a way for the community to get out and give, keep the donation baskets full, because people forget that giving is a year-round thing."
Thumbnail photograph courtesy of Main Street Fairmount, Indiana Facebook page.
