MONROE — On the Saturday of Gretchen Wilson’s Festival of Gifts, Monroe was blanketed in snow. Still, the weather didn’t prevent success for the alternative gift fair at Morning Star Lutheran Church.
While shoppers enjoyed holiday music, pie and hot chocolate, they helped raise roughly $3,425 for the 15 local and international charities Wilson had invited.
“I think it was a successful event in fundraising for the first time,” Wilson said. “All the vendors I spoke with were very pleased with the event and thought their educational efforts were well received, too.”
As results came in, Wilson provided the following tallies:
Maendeleo, a Federal Way organization that helps women in Kenya and Tanzania start businesses, raised $700 for the women’s groups it helps.
Heifer International raised $1,320.
Fair Trade Coffee sold about $300 of its products, money slated to support fairly-traded coffees grown in a sustainable manner.
Shenaini China Ethnic Crafts sold $520 worth of its hand-crafted purses and other items made by the Minority Miao Women’s Co-op of Sichuan Province, China.
Brown Bag Brigade raised $200 to help pack lunches for needy people in the Sky Valley area.
The Sultan Food Bank netted about $150.
Muttshack, a pet rescue organization, raised $235.
Reporter Leita Crossfield: 425-339-3449 or crossfield@heraldnet.com.
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