LP_113017

lockportlegend.com LIFE & ARTS
the Lockport Legend | November 30, 2017 | 23
HOLIDAY
From Page 22
said Chris Wallace, current
president of the Lockport
Woman’s Club and member
of the craft show’s committee
for the past 17 years.
“This is our only fundraiser
for the year,” she said.
“All of the money goes to
charities.”
Rosemary Gasper, a
member of the Christmas
Crossroads committee who
has been working the event
for the past 23 years, added,
“Everything that we work
for we give away.”
Yet, this isn’t the only way
the event helps give back.
Christmas Crossroads also
provides opportunities for
local organizations to fundraise
and share their causes.
For example, Lockport
Township High School’s
band sold food during the
event to raise funds, while
the local Boy Scout Troop
ran a coat check, and several
booths were saved for
local organizations.
“We have a number of
booths we save for charities
to have in order to help
them as they fundraise and
spread awareness,” Wallace
said.
About one-third of the
vendors at the show were
new this year, while the
majority are regulars at the
Christmas Crossroads Craft
Show. Jackie Newberry, a
Joliet resident and owner of
Let It Snow-Men — which
offers handmade snowmen
décor made out of wood
— has been a vendor at the
show for the past six years.
In fact, she’s been showing
her products at the Christmas
Crossroads since she
began her business.
“I think the variety brings
a lot of customers, and I
like that it’s all handmade
crafts,” she said.
Chicago resident Sheila
Awong, along with her husband
Chris and daughter
Kayla, has been a vendor
at the show with their company
Budley Bows since
May Xiong paints a clay flower at her May’s Art Clay Flowers
booth. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Debbi Sumner (middle) of The Hook and Eye shows designs
to Katie Vertenten (left) and Barb Szpyrka.
2013 and also said the show
draws a great crowd.
“I hear it’s one of the biggest
shows, and it’s welladvertised
and well-organized,”
Chris said. “And
we always have returning
customers.”
In fact, Jaclyn LaPorte,
a Lockport resident, said
she comes to get new bows
from Budley Bows every
year.
“I just like craft shows,
and it’s for a nice cause, it
supports local community
members that are here in
our community,” she said.
After organizing the
event for many years, this is
the last year that the current
committee members will
produce the event, according
to Wallace and Gasper.
Next year, a new group of
women will take charge of
the event. Although Wallace
and Gasper will be on-hand
to help next year, they are
proud of the work they have
done throughout the years
and are ready to step aside
for new leaders.
The Lockport Woman’s
Club has also become involved
with Wreaths Across
America and is selling
wreathes to be placed at the
Arlington National Cemetery
in honor the country’s
fallen heroes. Each wreath
is $15, and for every two
purchased a third will be
donated, Wallace said.
“
I like the way the
magazine is put
together—long enough
where I know I’m
going to be able to read
substantial pieces, but
not too thick where the
reader is intimidated.
And the content is
compelling (and that’s
the key, obviously).”
—danny s., of chicago
Celebrated by critics and readers, the depth and strength
of Chicagoly’s storytelling is unmatched in this city.
Don’t miss another issue.
Subscribe today.
Chicagolymag.com/subscribe
a 22nd century media publication