The holiday season has arrived, and local residents started taking advantage of early shopping opportunities last Saturday during vendor, craft and bake sales in Clearwater and Becker.

 

The third annual Clearwater fall craft and vendor event was held in the Lions’ building. Event organizer Krista Nieland was pleased with the turnout, with over 200 people coming through to shop with 19 different vendors.

 

A spring sale is planned for early April.

 

Twenty-three vendors took part in Faith Lutheran’s fall craft and bake sale in Becker, which was held by the church’s ELCA Women of Faith. The sale is one of the major fundraisers for the group; their summer garage sale is another.

 

The craft and bake sale, which began as just a bake sale around 15 years ago, has grown in size over the years to include vendors.

 

“The event is organized by myself and Judy Bowatz,” said Joyce Sowers. “And we have good participation from our church members.” 

 

Every year Bowatz makes soup to sell by the bowl during the event and by the quart to take home. This year’s selections were chicken noodle, chicken wild rice and vegetable beef.

 

Along with the sale the event features a lunch, with sloppy joes made by Muriel Schaap.

 

Vendors are charged a registration fee to participate, and all proceeds raised go toward mission outreach, including the local food shelf and needy individuals, Becker schools social service, Sherburne Co. social service, Anna Marie’s in St. Cloud and needs within the church itself such as the high school youth mission trips.

 

The mission youth themselves and their parents had a booth at this year’s sale, selling mittens and other craft items. They were also the group that made the popular homemade lefse.