Hundreds attend C.A.R.E.’s first Gift & Wine Fair
The Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort no-kill shelter in Ruskin gave area shoppers a surprise dose of holiday spirit Nov. 16 as it hosted its inaugural Gift & Wine Fair at Southshore Falls.
The fundraiser featured 30 vendors and netted $6,000 for the 501(c)3 organization. C.A.R.E. Board President Penny Smith was pleased with the turnout of more than 250 shoppers whose purchases benefited the shelter.
“We wanted to make this a high-quality event, and that’s what we did. Our vendors seemed happy with their sales, and people who came appeared to be having a good time. There is no question we will host the event again next year,” she said.
Smith said she was grateful to Sheri Schumacher and C.A.R.E.’s 12-member Outreach Committee and the volunteers who showed up to help at the event.
LOIS KINDLE PHOTOS
More than 250 people turned out for the C.A.R.E Gift & Wine Fair Nov. 16 at Southshore Falls in Apollo Beach. Thirty vendors sold everything from handmade Christmas décor and homemade jams to jewelry and boutique clothing.
Paula Olesen, of the Apollo Beach Garden Club, sold dozens of assorted succulents at the recent C.A.R.E. fundraiser.
The Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort no-kill shelter featured this display at its Nov. 16 Gift and Wine Fair at Southshore Falls. The event raised at least $6,000 for the shelter operational expenses, including $500 a month for cat litter.
Woodworker Michael Sadler looks on as a potential customer peruses his handcrafted offerings at the recent C.A.R.E. Gift and Wine Fair.
A shopper checks out some of the gift baskets to be raffled off at the C.A.R.E. Gift and Wine Fair, as a Powerpoint slide show of animals up for adoption at the shelter scrolls behind her.
Shoppers found plenty of festive gifts like this one included in the Gift & Win e Fair’s silent auction.
Lois Kindle
