Jill Rogers Barham - Junior League of Little Rock
Jill Rogers Barham - Junior League of Little Rock
Jill Rogers Barham - Junior League of Little Rock
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Holiday House is a Gift that Keeps<br />
on Giving All Year Long By <strong>Jill</strong> <strong>Rogers</strong> <strong>Barham</strong><br />
For 19 years, the <strong>Junior</strong> <strong>League</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Little</strong> <strong>Rock</strong>’s Holiday House<br />
has been the kick<strong>of</strong>f event <strong>of</strong> the<br />
holiday season. More than 150 merchants,<br />
hundreds <strong>of</strong> <strong>League</strong> volunteers and<br />
thousands <strong>of</strong> patrons participate in this<br />
shopping extravaganza. Holiday House<br />
will take place this year at the Statehouse<br />
Convention Center November 11 th - 14 th .<br />
To the over 14,000 shoppers that are<br />
expected this year, Holiday House is a<br />
terrific opportunity to shop from local,<br />
national and international merchants all<br />
in one location. To the merchants, it’s<br />
a chance to <strong>of</strong>fer their goods to loyal<br />
customers and to find new patrons all<br />
in one convenient location. To <strong>League</strong><br />
members, it is the financial foundation for<br />
the community projects.<br />
Holiday House is the primary fundraiser for<br />
every community project organized by the<br />
<strong>League</strong>. These projects include Be Wise<br />
Immunize Buckle up and be Safe, Kota<br />
Camp Girls Recognizing Opportunities<br />
Within (GROW), Nightingales, SCAT<br />
Night Owls, and Stuff the Bus. Every<br />
parent <strong>of</strong> a child seeking treatment at<br />
Arkansas Children’s Hospital whose<br />
evening is brightened by a Nightingale<br />
volunteer, every GROW girl who holds<br />
her head a little higher and stands a little<br />
taller, and every child who gets to enjoy<br />
the experience <strong>of</strong> summer camp, can<br />
be attributed in part to the funding that<br />
Holiday House provides. Holiday House<br />
revenue has grown every year. In the last<br />
five years alone, the amount raised has<br />
gone from $181,000 to $265,000.<br />
The Who and The How?<br />
Holiday House raises funds through a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> sources, including merchant<br />
booth rental fees, raffle ticket sales, the<br />
“Milk and Cookies” event, ticket sales<br />
20 Interaction l Holiday 2009<br />
and auctions during special events, and<br />
Santa’s Snack Shop. Of the more than<br />
150 merchants participating this year,<br />
there will be some tried and true favorites<br />
and some exciting new vendors. New to<br />
Holiday House this year are Tipton Hurst<br />
(beautiful flower arrangements and home<br />
accents); Ala Carte Alice (specializing in<br />
gourmet mixes, soups and breads); Bella<br />
Vita Inc. (home décor to help complete the<br />
beautiful life); Carmie’s Kitchen (Mexican<br />
dips- delicioso!); Monogrammed Gifts<br />
from Paris (c’est magnifique!); and<br />
TX (providing complete personalized<br />
engraving on-site). Sure to delight many<br />
Holiday House patrons, Sissy’s Log Cabin<br />
Jewelers, Jones and Son Fine Jewelers,<br />
Miller’s Mud Mill, New Cannan Farm,<br />
Beverly’s, Sweet Home Candles, and<br />
L & A Imports all will be returning as<br />
merchants this year. Holiday House is<br />
truly a one-stop-shop for your holiday<br />
season.<br />
Merchants Corner<br />
Why do merchants come back year after<br />
year? Amber <strong>Barham</strong>, Holiday House<br />
Chair, says the returning merchants cite<br />
the <strong>Junior</strong> <strong>League</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Little</strong> <strong>Rock</strong> as being<br />
the most giving <strong>Junior</strong> <strong>League</strong> with which<br />
they work. Merchants are treated with<br />
respect and are welcomed with open<br />
arms to <strong>Little</strong> <strong>Rock</strong>. The <strong>League</strong> provides<br />
the merchants with good food and takes<br />
care <strong>of</strong> their needs. Merchants are also<br />
impressed by the fact that Holiday House<br />
has an all-female cast. Women juggling<br />
careers, families, children, their other<br />
<strong>League</strong> requirements and more manage to<br />
put together Holiday House. The <strong>League</strong><br />
also manages to make it bigger and better<br />
each year.<br />
<strong>Barham</strong> also knows that Holiday House<br />
shoppers have established relationships<br />
with returning merchants and that shopper<br />
loyalty is a big reason merchants love the<br />
show! When recruiting new merchants,<br />
Holiday House seeks vendors that have<br />
unique, high quality products that meet all<br />
price ranges. The high quality and varied<br />
selection <strong>of</strong> merchants allows Holiday<br />
House to have everything from stocking<br />
stuffers to fine jewelry. The <strong>League</strong><br />
also wants merchants that understand<br />
our mission and the fact that the <strong>League</strong><br />
is a volunteer organization. This event<br />
is organized not to build the <strong>League</strong>’s<br />
c<strong>of</strong>fers, but to help those who live in our<br />
community.
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