UNITY — The Kin Club of Unity had been busy all year long, only for all their hard work to be gone in a matter of hours.
Jodi Mack, Kin Club member, had the idea to give children somewhere to purchase inexpensive, yet quality items for their family members during the annual Winter Wonderland. Mack had put the call out early in the year for anyone willing to craft some items to join in on the fun.
Mack had said in an earlier interview that crafting nights were held throughout the year as well as some individuals who had gathered some supplies to make at home. Some crafters picked through the donated supplies to make some special creations on their own time as well.
“Once people heard about Santa’s Hut and what we were doing, more items were being donated,” said Mack. Although Mack was unable to be at Winter Wonderland, fellow Kin member Morag Riddell was on hand to watch the evening unfold.
“We had originally had the idea that Kin members would help the kids pick out items and wrap them, however we did not expect to be overwhelmed with the crowd we had throughout the night,” said Riddell.
Riddell said the club had originally started with one wrapping table and by the end of the evening had four.
“We had volunteers with the high school’s Positive School Climate Committee helping us along with others who just stepped up to help us,” added Riddell.
By the end of the evening, Kin Club members wrapped and packaged close to 400 items, keeping the remaining items to be added to next year’s shelves.
“There were plenty of happy little shoppers leaving with packages all night long, we were so glad it was well received,” said Riddell.
