KENTVILLE, NS - Helping to support Annapolis Valley businesses and children in need at Christmas time is the goal for the organizer of an upcoming local business fair.
The Christmas edition of the “Shop Local, Shop Valley Local Business Fair” is being held at the Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus in Kentville on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Organizer Amanda Pace of Forest Hill, a second-year Business Administration student, said that after living away from the Valley for a few years, she noticed on her return that there were several new businesses she was unaware of. Pace figured that many smaller businesses probably get “lost in the noise” and she began thinking of ways to raise awareness of them.
She worked as an intern in Kingstec’s Student Services department over the summer. During this time, a couple of business owners called to ask if a business fair was held at the campus. This got Pace thinking about hosting such an event, an idea that gelled while taking a Community Leadership class.
Pace decided that, instead of charging for table rentals, she would team up with the Kids Action Program (KAP) and ask each participating vendor to donate a Christmas present for a child in need. KAP will ensure that the presents get to children in area communities that need them the most.
“Christmas time is a difficult time of year for a lot of families and I have children of my own, so it’s nice to be able to find a way to give to the children that don’t have what other children have,” Pace said.
Pace is hoping to have approximately 40 different businesses take part, about 30 of which have already confirmed. She said participating vendors and those attending the fair could feel good about supporting a worthwhile cause.
Another way Pace hopes to support children in need through KAP is to accept children’s winter clothing items or Christmas gifts suitable for children in lieu of the $2 admission charge.
She said Kingstec is a well-known and respected institution in the community and the gym is very spacious, making for a great venue for such an event.
Pace said she loves craft fairs and there are all sorts of them being held at this time of year. However, she wanted to hold something a little different. There will be craft vendors but also businesses with a wide array of other products and services, including food, clothing, decorations and much more.
“It’s going to be a very wide range of products, which has me excited because I want somebody to be able to come and find something for anybody on their Christmas list,” Pace said.
She hopes people will support local businesses while doing their Christmas shopping, thereby supporting the community and the local economy.
If you have a small to medium-sized business and are interested in taking part in the fair, contact Pace through Shop Local, Shop Valley on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ShopAnnapolisValley/.
