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| Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier
Shoppers make their way around the Last-Minute Non-Profit Stocking Stuffer Bazaar at the Prescott Activity Center in December 2008. Non-Profit groups sell their wares to generate money for their groups.
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PRESCOTT - The "Last-Minute Nonprofit Stocking Stuffer Bazaar," an annual holiday tradition since 1992, rolls on this weekend at the Grace Sparkes Activity Center, 824 E. Gurley St.
Rain, snow or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday inside the Activity Center's main gym, 56 nonprofit agencies, scout, school or service groups will sell inexpensive, one-of-a-kind gifts, handmade crafts, baked goods and raffle chances.
Event founders Debbie and Don Stewart play host to the sold-out gathering, which offers area nonprofit organizations an inexpensive way to generate money and awareness for their groups.
Admission into the bazaar, sponsored by the Yavapai County Jeep Posse, is free and open to the public.
Generally, anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people stroll through the center to look for and buy holiday gifts.
"We started the bazaar because we noticed a lot of individual organizations had craft shows, but there was not a way to bring all of the agencies under one roof," Debbie said. "This gives all those organizations a chance to sell the things they were not able to sell at their own events."
Vendors this year include, but are not limited to, the American Legion, Elks Opera House Foundation, Neighbor to Neighbor, Friends of J.S. Acker, the Cub Scouts and Girls Scouts, Hacienda de los Milagros, Miss Kitty's Cat House, New Horizons Independent Living Center, Smoki Museum, Horses with Heart, Prescott Area Woodturners, Yavapai Gourd Patch and Yavapai Humane Society.
All vendor merchandise is new and of high quality, Debbie said, with several items suitable for gift-giving occasions throughout the year, including birthdays, anniversaries and housewarming parties.
Debbie guarantees that anyone can find a gift at the bazaar. On the day of the event, she wears a large hat inspired by Dr. Seuss' classic children's book, "The Cat in the Hat," so people can find her if they have questions.
Vendors sell everything from books, baby blankets, pajamas, candles and pottery to toys, games, jewelry, bath products, and baked goods and candy. Some groups bring in items directly from their gift shops.
"They will either be handmade items or items they purchased in wholesale in order to resell specifically at the bazaar," Don said. "In most cases they are hand-built or handmade because that gives them the best profit margin."
Most items' prices range from $1 to $20, and all money a vendor generates goes directly to the nonprofit selling the goods.
"In the down economy, everybody's looking for a bargain," Don said. "And the money stays in the community."
In return for providing volunteers to help with logistics, such as parking, security and cleanup, the Yavapai County Jeep Posse receives the proceeds from vendor booth rental fees.
"Our main goal is to provide a quality event at a low price to the vendors, and take care of the nonprofit vendors and the public," Debbie said. "Don and I make no money for this. It's our gift to the community."
In addition, from noon to 2 p.m., Santa Claus will pay a visit with gifts for children accompanied by an adult. Raggedy Ann will stop by from 11 a.m. to noon, and children can get their pictures taken with her for free. Carolers will sing Christmas songs, too.
The Prescott Police Department's Explorer cadets will offer free fingerprinting for children whose parents want to keep the prints for their personal records.
For more information about the bazaar, call Debbie or Don at 778-3747, or log onto www.Stocking-Stuffer-Bazaar.com.
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