OXFORD – It's that time of year when parents of high schoolers across the nation are informed that yearbook orders are due. But for many families struggling to just make ends meet, carving out an extra $65 – $100 just isn't in the budget, making such a purchase impractical.
Even with the onslaught of social digital media and cloud based applications, the yearly print chronicle of those all important high school memories continues to be a much revered tangible memento amongst high schoolers—even in 2016.
Published yearbooks are still invaluable cherished keepsakes that follow many a graduate for the balance of their lives.
But in Oxford, when times get tough, the tough get creative, and that's exactly the sentiment of Oxford Academy's yearbook staff who conceived the notion of hosting a fundraising event that would not only subsidize the cost of its annual archive to those less than fortunate, but also offer an outlet to area venders in search of a much appreciated sales boost with the holidays right around the corner.
The end product: The third annual Oxford Craft & Vendor Fair. This Saturday, Nov. 19, the Oxford High School gymnasium will be transformed into a convention-meets-comminty yard sale with more than 35 vendors selling a gamut of items from artisan and hand crafted to catalogue boutique.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., community members can pay a small $1 admission fee – which doubles as Chinese auction ticket – and have access to all fifty plus vendors in one convenient location.
As an added bonus, shoppers will be able to purchase prize drawing tickets, visit the new children's craft area in the cafeteria and grab a chicken barbeque lunch, put on by the school's class of 2018 juniors.
“This year we have 36 vendors setting up to offer some early relief to holiday shopping,” said event organizer Melissa Gross. “Some of the vendors that will be on hand are; Knapp Knoll Woodworks, The Impish Grin, Natty Threads, Plexus, Pike Rd Designs, Lula Roe; this list is very impressive,” said Gross.
