With the holiday season quickly approaching, members of the Malvern Area Kiwanis Club hope to give area residents a jump-start on their shopping. The local civic club will sponsor the Malvern Area Kiwanis Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Boys & Girls Club of Malvern and Hot Spring County.
“Shoppers will be able to select gifts from a wide range of homemade items and other gifts from local vendors,” said Lauren McClard, chairwoman of the event. “This is the first time we have sponsored a holiday market, but we hope to make this an annual event. Proceeds will go toward our projects that benefit the children of our community, such as the Boys & Girls Club of Malvern and Hot Spring County, the Hot Spring County Backpack Program in local schools and high school scholarships.
“Pictures with Santa will be offered from noon to 4 p.m. at the holiday market,” McClard said. “Photos are $5 each and will be printed on-site.”
McClard said shoppers will also be able to purchase concessions throughout the day.
Admission to the holiday market is $1, which includes one raffle ticket; additional raffle tickets may be purchased for $1 each.
Raffle items include a $40 gift card to Outback Steakhouse of Hot Springs, a $40 gift card to Olive Garden of Hot Springs, a jewelry package from Bling Divas of Malvern, a free oil change (a $40 value) from Quick Way Lube and Tire of Malvern, a $20 gift certificate from DP Nail and Spa of Malvern, a goody bag with a large T-shirt from College of the Ouachitas, two $20 gas vouchers from Winner’s Circle of Malvern, a Streamlight flashlight (a $45 value) from Susan Lafond, a $75 gift card from the Walmart Supercenter in Malvern and one free night in a standard room ($135) at the Arlington Hotel of Hot Springs.
“We wanted to do a new fundraiser this year,” said McClard, who has been a member of the organization for two years and is a past secretary. “We thought it would be fun and people would enjoy it. A lot of other communities have something similar to this. The holiday market may bring in a different crowd than our other fundraisers. Plus, it is low-cost for us to sponsor.”
Assisting McClard on the Planning Committee are Allison Malone, Clare Graham, Terri Bryant and Tammy Denham.
Vendor applications may still be available; the vendor fee is $20 per spot. Interested vendors may pick up applications at the Boys & Girls Club, 1840 W. Moline St. in Malvern.
The Malvern Area Kiwanis Club was chartered in 2010. Sharon Walters is the current president.
“I am very excited about our holiday market coming up,” Walters said. “Lauren, Allison and Clare have taken the lead on this. There is a place we can use every member in our club; each one brings a different talent and life experiences.
“We work to raise money to help the children in our community and surrounding communities. We give scholarships, send kids to camps, have clothing drives and help with toys and food at Christmas and other times of the year. Children are our future, and each one deserves the opportunity to achieve their goals.”
Susan Lafond, charter member, past president and current treasurer of the Malvern Area Kiwanis Club, as well as lieutenant governor of Division 15, Missouri-Arkansas Division, Kiwanis International, said she is “very excited about the holiday market.
“This is a new idea for us,” Lafond said. “This gives our local crafters and artisans a chance to show their work. And it gives residents of Malvern and Hot Spring County a chance to shop local and get very unique items, plus support us, the Kiwanis Club … a group that helps the community.”
For more information on the Malvern Area Kiwanis Club Holiday Market or to secure a vendor booth, call McClard at (501) 467-1365.