Christmas Market funds will provide holiday dinner baskets

FRENCHVILLE, Maine – Many families in the greater Frenchville area will be able to put holiday dinner on the table thanks to money raised during the 2nd Annual Frenchville Christmas Market held this weekend. 

More than 500 guests visited the event at the Frenchville Community Center, where they shopped 35 tables of items from homemade Christmas wreaths and baked goods to direct sales products. 

Co-organizer Lana Cyr and her friend Aimee Michaud, both of Frenchville, developed the idea for the Christmas Market after attending a fundraiser craft fair in Van Buren a few years ago. 

“We wanted to bring a one-stop Christmas shopping market to Frenchville that supported local talent, crafters and vendors such as direct sales reps,” Cyr said. “I sell Norwex and not all ‘craft fairs’ support direct sales/small businesses such as that. We wanted a place for all to be able to represent their product before Christmas.”

Cyr and Michaud also wanted the event to help families in need. Last year, money raised from admissions at the door and through a 50/50 raffle at the market allowed them to provide Christmas food baskets and gas cards to 15 families. 

“Whether it brings a little joy to someone or helps lift the financial burden from the rising cost of living, we knew there were families, especially those with young children, who could use the help,” Cyr said.

This year the Christmas Market raised more than $1,300 — four times the proceeds earned from the first inception of the event, according to Cyr.

Knights of Columbus Council 7920 served chicken stew and ployes at the Christmas Market for “donations at will” and raised $700 to host a children’s Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 18.

FRENCHVILLE, Maine – December 10, 2022 – A gentleman smiles as he leaves the Frenchville Community Center with a hand crafted wreath he purchased at the 2nd Annual Frenchville Christmas Market on Saturday. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)