From the left: Susan Smith, Melinda Kay, Fran Demerell, Catherine Gay, Patty Gay, and Aaron Wood helped with the craft show and rummage sale
The Bay Net Photos by Tom Latchaw

What eats 42 gallons of oysters, 150 pounds of ham, 7 bushels of sweet potatoes, 300+ pounds of potato salad, tens of gallons of both applesauce and green beans, and scores of gallons of iced tea?  (Hint – look at the title of this article).

This year’s Holiday Dinner and Bazaar served over 600 dinners and sold Christmas crafts and holiday goodies to a multitude of our friends and neighbors, some from as far away as Rhode Island.  Jessie-Jo Bowen organized this year’s affair with her usual style and panache, and it’s pretty fair to say that the majority of this year’s visitors know her.  She coordinated scores of volunteers who donated hundreds of hours cooking, cleaning and serving food that was delicious and plentiful.

The craft fair featured local artisans showing wares from needlework to nick-nacks and tchachkes.  Shown in the picture above are the craft fair helpers, Melinda Kay, Aaron Wood, Susan Smith, Catherine Gay, Patty Gay, and their leader Fran Demerell. 

 
 Some of Santa’s helpers from the Secret Shoppe

Upstairs, children brought their allowances to the “Secret Santa Shoppe” where they could browse the donated items, pick out something just right for the special people in their lives and then get help wrapping them.  They were helped by the United Methodist Youth, some of whom are shown in the photo (left).  The helpers were Rachel Pazdersky, Morgan and Abby Thomas, Aaron Wood, Rachel and Chris Farnese, Kenny VanDuzer, Emma Cook, Ashley Ivanosich, Julie Anne Joseph, Bradley Cook, Audrey and Darcy Whelan, Alyssa and Alex Orburne, Victoria and Hannah Bowen, Becky Willis, Mamie Sorenson, Ruth Dent and Melynne Wisniewski.  Adult helpers were organized by Wendy Bowen and Lori Willis and included Cathy Joseph, Alice Thomas, Karla Osburne, Tony Joseph, Courtney Jaworski, and Kimberly Catterton.

Proceeds from the dinner and craft show will be used to benefit the missions of Trinity United Methodist Church including Birthright, Project Echo, Celebrate Recovery, and prison ministry.