Over 850 members join Tilney All Saints virtual Christmas fayre
Tilney All Saints fundraisers have taken their Christmas Fayre online in a bid to support local businesses while raising money for the village school.
The Tilney All Saints Virtual Online Christmas Fayre has exploded since it launched with 850 members joining the group on Facebook and over 65 local stalls and traders selling their products.
Jo Drew, a member of Friends Of The School Association (FOSA), said: "We at FOSA are really trying to give the children and families of our school a lovely Christmas after what has been such a difficult year, already we plan to give each child in the school an advent calendar.
"We are also in the process of trying to make it safe for Santa to pay a visit to the outside the school windows, to deliver each child an extra special present this year. It's our way of saying thank you to our school families for their support, donations and a Merry Christmas from your school FOSA."
She added: "We work hard all year around fundraising and trying to think of ways to provide the children with extra activities, experiences, gifts and fun events. This year has been like no other we have ever known and we FOSA are fully aware, just how badly COVID has affected so many people, families, businesses, everybody has been hit in some way by what’s been going on all over the world. "
Normally FOSA would host a small Christmas fayre at the school but due to COVID restrictions, the friends came together to plan a virtual event. They invited small local businesses, trades people and craft stalls to join in for a donation of £5 to the school.
Mrs Drew said: "With Tilney being such a small school, we FOSA are also fully aware, every time we fundraise or hold events we are usually hitting the same families, parents and guardians pockets every time. This way not only could we fundraise for the children of the school without hitting the same parents/guardians pockets, we could also help promote a large number of small businesses and people within our area."
The virtual fayre started earlier this month with only a handful of stalls, but within weeks the Facebook group grew to over 850 members and 65 traders offering a huge range of items including handmade products.
Products for sale include paintings and artwork, cakes, childen's books, arts and crafts, hand painted mugs and even personalised sanitiser bottles along with many more.
Mrs Drew added: "We have had so much positive feedback from it, people are loving having everything in one place. They are loving the fact they know they are supporting local people and businesses, the variety of personalised and handmade items, these are just not things you would see in the main street shops. To purchase the items, you contact the sellers direct, our stall holders have been fantastic, some are offering postage, or social distancing click and collect services and delivery services.
She said: "We're so grateful to committee member Maria Lynch who created the whole event. We didn’t know how well this was going to go but the feedback and support we have received has just been amazing!"
Organisers are still accepting new stalls, email: maria@mervandmaria.com and you can join the Tilney All Saints Virtual Online Christmas Fayre via the Facebook group.
