A WARM WELCOME … Brightly lit garlands and a snowy sign led attendees into a bustling Founder’s Hall on Saturday for the annual Fulton County Festival of Trees Holiday Market.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Founder’s Hall in Archbold was abuzz with activity and the Christmas Spirit on Saturday, when it was filled with vendors and happy shoppers for Triangular Processing’s annual holiday market.
The market is part of the three-day Fulton County Festival of Trees events which serves as a fundraiser for Triangular Processing Inc., which provides services for local people with developmental disabilities.
“Triangular Processing provides services from vocational training to transportation, recreation, Special Olympics, and they’re just things that aren’t funded or are underfunded,” Director Kathy Shaw said.
“This fundraiser is all about giving them what they need, and none of the funds go to administrative costs. All of the funds go directly to the individuals.”
The nonprofit organization also operates high-needs program The Annex, art facility The Studio, the Triangular Processing recycling center, the Blooms Flower Shop, and restaurant The Table on Fulton.
Now in its fifth year, the event was first held at St. Caspar Catholic Church, but outgrew the space in its first year.
COVID limited the second year to a miniature version of the agency’s santa shop. Ever since, the event has been held at Founder’s Hall.
Shaw called Saturday’s turnout “beyond our dreams,” holding back tears to add “I’m just very impressed by Fulton County and all the support they have given us.”
Among the roughly three dozen vendors plying their wares at the market was Cara Johnson with Sweet Pea Poppy Designs.
Johnson launched her business in 2020, offering customized painted door hangers, do-it-yourself door hanger kits, and custom T-shirts and sweatshirts, but only began attending vendor shows earlier this year. On Saturday, she was assisted by her mom, Julie Wasserman.
“I also offer painting parties, so not only do they buy my signs, but they’ve been asking if I can do a paint party for them and they host and have their friends come, and then they pay them themselves,” Johnson said. “I’ve been getting a lot of clients through those too.”
She said her signs are her bread and butter, and that sitting down to create and paint them is her favorite part of her work.
Running her own table was Erin Dennis with The Rolling Pin baked goods. Dennis has only been running her business for about a year and had just started her vendor show efforts at the Field of Dreams Drive-In Fall Market in October.
“I loved baking at home, and everyone seemed to like it, so I thought maybe I could make some money doing it,” she said. “I’m just doing what I enjoy.”
Dennis shared her table with Megan Burnett, who was offering baked goods for dogs. Not only was it her first show, but her first time making the treats.
“It’s been wonderful, really the dog treats have been doing pretty well,” Burnett said.
The market was one of three events held as part of the Festival of Trees leading into the weekend, with a business after hours event the preceding Thursday and a gala dinner and auction held that Friday.
The event was sponsored by Andres, O’Neil & Lowe Insurance Agency, Anderzack-Pitzen Construction, F&M Bank, FirstEnergy, NorthStar BlueScope, Shultz Huber and Associates Certified Public Accountants, and Terry Henricks Auto Group.
For more information on Triangular Processing, visit triangularprocessing.com or visit their page on Facebook.