Beachcombers centre accepting vendors for July fundraiser bazaar

Beachcombers Seniors Centre in Ridgeway is accepting vendor table requests until May 30 for its July 11 summer bazaar, the centre’s largest annual fundraiser, which supports programming for more than 600 members.

The bazaar runs 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 237 Ridge Road North, timed to coincide with the Ridgeway BIA’s Ridgefest, a street fair which closes Ridge Road to traffic for the day. Proceeds from the bazaar go to fund exercise classes, recreational activities and bus passes for seniors who can no longer drive.

Beachcombers is looking for eight to 10 vendors depending on table size. Vendors choose from large, medium or small tables, with or without electrical access. Once accepted, they pay the table fee and donate a prize to the bazaar’s basket raffle.

“If people want smaller tables, then we could have more, but we only have so much space in our facility,” said Glenda Calcutta, the bazaar’s co-ordinator, to Fort Erie Radio.

Past tables have included vendors selling diamond art, outdoor glass crafts, crocheting, jewellery and laser-etched metal signs.

“It’s a wide assortment of different craft,” said Calcutta. “We’d like to see a diverse group of people selling.”

The bazaar also runs a basket raffle with roughly 50 donated prizes, a garage sale on the front grounds and a bake sale.

Calcutta said the food this year will be more of a breakfast menu including scones and coffee in the morning, followed by barbecued hot dogs and peameal bacon on a bun later in the day.

“We draw a lot of people off the street to come in and taste the food,” said Calcutta.

The start time has also changed to an hour earlier this year to match Ridgefest’s opening.

Beachcombers membership has doubled over 10 years, from roughly 300 to more than 600.

“It’s a lot of effort, but it helps us then promote and allows us to do more programs for our members,” said Calcutta.

Calcutta moved to the area from Saskatchewan a decade ago knowing no one and joined Beachcombers soon after.

“It’s really difficult for many seniors, because everyone’s got their own little groups of friends, but we found a way to meet people,” she said.

Vendor applications are open through the Beachcombers website until May 30. Accepted vendors will be notified by June 5.

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