Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds
Celebrate A Life

Annual craft market in support of hospice moves online

Dec 3, 2020 | 5:08 PM

KAMLOOPS — The annual Celebrate a Life craft market has moved online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The craft market is usually held at Northills Mall, with handmade goods for sale in support of hospice.

This year, the Hospice Association had to make a quick decision to move its craft market to Facebook. Volunteers will set the spoken-for items aside for an agreed upon pick-up time at the Hospice Home.

Crafters have been working on their products throughout the year for this sale.

“We normally raise between $20,000 and $22,000,” said volunteer Dorothy Woodward. “I would be happy if we made $5,000-to-$10,000 this year on the crafts because of the new venue and the things that we’re doing. So, we’d be happy with anything right now.”

There are no raffles this year due to logistical challenges with selling tickets.

In any normal year, the market would also involve a Memory Tree, where people write the names of loved ones they’ve lost. This year, people are asked to write their memories online.

“We’re not doing the Memory Tree this year — we just don’t have an area to do it in,” said Mary Rea with the Hospice Association.

“But people can mention their people on the site and we will try and write a card for them. Next year, we’ll have the tree back and then we’ll go full tilt again.”