Craft Fair Rummage Sale to raise money for Oasis programs
More than two dozen vendors, resale bargains, live performances, concession stand goodies & freshly-baked holiday pies
The first Indoor Craft Fair and Rummage Sale — open to the public — will be held at the Oasis High School gym to raise money for choral shells for the band and choir classes.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday, Nov. 22, at 3519 Oasis Blvd. and will feature more than 25 vendors, a rummage sale — items from teachers and parents, musical performances from Oasis Middle School and Oasis High School, food from the school’s booster concession stand and pies from Oasis High School’s culinary class.
Oasis High School chorus and drama teacher Carrie Guffy said the performing arts department, as well as others at the school, are in charge of their own fundraising.
“The parents got together and came up with this event. It’s garnering a lot of attention that we absolutely love,” she said.
As of Thursday, they had 27 confirmed vendors. She said the culinary department is doing preorders of pies for the fundraiser.
“The high school and middle school are doing different performance throughout the day to showcase what we have here and try to garner some donations and more support,” Guffy said.
The vendors will have homemade items for sale including jewelry, 3D printing, crochet and sewing items, and Christmas wreaths.
“There are a lot of things to come and shop for Christmas and support a good cause,” she said.
The event will raise money for choral shells. The choral shells, at price tag of about $13,000, is equipment that goes behind risers to allow sound to be amplified forward.
Guffy began the fine arts program in 2018 when she first joined the Oasis staff.
“It’s a labor of love. I have been teaching for 26 years. I would consider something I enjoy is building programs for schools,” Guffy said.
When she was offered a position at Oasis High School, she said they had a choir throughout the years, and a little theater department without any shows.
“When I first started in 2018, I had 11 people in choir and seven kids in the theater program. Today I have two full-time choirs – mixed chorus up to 45 members and an audition-only vocal assemble of 20, and our shows,” she said.
There are now three shows throughout the year – a regular stage play, junior play and a musical in the spring.
There are also 40 members in the afternoon International Thespian Society. The group participates in competitions throughout the year.
“We are building something here that can compete with the big performing art schools. I know there are lot of kids that love to do it and want a program they can feel proud of. That is what I try to build here,” Guffy said.
The success of the program is due to the kids, she said.
“I educate them and not do it for them,” Guffy said. “They are the ones that run a lot of the stuff. I have a leadership program embedded in the performing arts. I have a president and vice president for the student leadership. They are absolutely amazing.”
Guffy said they have a great JROTC program, sports programs, culinary program, entrepreneurship program, and now a really good arts program.
“To give every single student something and be able to say now the performing arts program is just as big, it gives a student a place to belong no matter what their interests are,” she said.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com