Greenfield-Central High School students run booths annually at the G-CHS Holiday Bazaar, a fundraiser for many groups.
Submitted photo
Editor’s note: The Daily Reporter will feature our “Neighbors” each month, whether it be someone with an interesting hobby or profession, or a nonprofit group making a difference in our community. Here, Janelle Keusch, a family and consumer science teacher at Greenfield-Central High School, shares about the school’s Family Career and Community Leaders of America program. The 10th annual G-CHS Holiday Bazaar is coming up Dec. 2. If you know a person or a group that you’d like to see featured in Neighbors, email [email protected].
Daily Reporter: What makes the G-CHS Holiday Bazaar special?
Janelle Keusch: The Holiday Bazaar is a popular event for locals to complete their holiday shopping while supporting student organizations with fundraising at the high school.
DR: Describe the atmosphere of the event.
JK: A fun way to shop with family and friends, a variety of vendors, and student-made snacks and crafts. There are over 100 booth spaces and a wide variety of items … to shop local and support current GCHS high school students. Santa will be there and it is a great way to spend the day with family or friends.
DR: How is this a fundraiser?
JK: FCCLA is the student organization that hosts the event. FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) is a national student organization, it was once called FHA (Future Homemakers of America). The money we raise allows the students to compete in a variety of projects at the state and national level. We have had five culinary teams over the years, and students completing projects in interior design, fashion construction, career investigation, professional presentations, and more. Nationals is held at a different location each year, last summer we went to Denver, Colorado.
Sometimes other groups are involved. This bazaar, the Europe trip students are raising money for their trip by serving the breakfast. Other individual students have booths and sell items they make. FFA will be selling houseplants and has helped to host some years. The Prom committee has also helped with hosting in the past by greeting guests as they arrive. The Theatre/Drama department students help with the Santa area decorations and act as elves.
Money is raised through vendor reservations and donations from shoppers as they enter. There is no entrance fee.
DR: How has the event changed or grown over the last 10 years?
JK: We started out with only 20-30 booths in the cafeteria, mostly teachers, friends and students. Now we have expanded substantially to having over 100 throughout the hallways and library as well, with some people traveling to be a vendor. This year we will have a coffee food trailer outside as well as our Kettle Corn vendor that has been there many years.
DR: Do you expect it to continue to be an annual tradition?
JK: Yes, it is highly anticipated and I receive questions about the event often.
Event details: The G-CHS Bazaar is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 2 at the high school, 830 N. Broadway St., Greenfield. Bring cash or checks for payments. Children can enjoy free visits with Santa throughout the event.
