Loma Linda Chamber Hosts First Community Arts and Crafts Fair

Christmas is just around the corner, and the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce hosted its first annual arts and crafts fair, inviting Loma Linda residents to get a jump start on their holiday shopping this year. The arts and crafts fair is one event in a long list that the Chamber has held in the effort to support and promote local business, explained Phil Carlisle, CEO. "The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce works in an effort to help local businesses and their members prosper with whatever service or merchandise they're providing," Carlisle said. Carlisle shared that this particular year, the Chamber identified a need to provide an opportunity to "artsy and crafty" business owners of the community. "It's Christmas time, and people are Christmas shopping, so it was a good opportunity to come out here and share my craft with the Loma Linda community," said Cookie Lee Jewelry vendor Ina Ramirez. Herbert Grovechi, who came to look and shop around, described the fair as a great way to get quality items at an affordable price. The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce's first arts and craft fair was backed with support by the city and other local organizations and clubs, Chamber members expressed. Proceeds from the event will go to the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, which provides a place for families of children living with illnesses to stay during their medical treatments. The inaugural event saw 26 vendors participating. "For it being the very first arts & craft fair we hosted, it was pretty successful," explained Gay Turner, the Chamber's event coordinator. "The hopes are it will become an annual event." [END] LL Chamber Arts & Crafts Fair Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Time: 7:30 a.m. Google Map Event Location: Civic Center Community Room Address: 25541 Barton Rd. Loma Linda CA 92354 Description: Thru 5 p.m. Browse and purchase homemade crafts and support local business. Get a jump on your holiday shopping! CONTACT INFO Phone: LL Chamber 909-799-2828 ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Christmas is just around the corner, and there is no better way to start the surge of early bird holiday shopping than with an arts & crafts fair as was held on Wednesday, November 20th. The Civic Center community room filled with people as the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce hosted its very first annual Arts & Crafts fair. For several years now, the chamber of commerce in Loma Linda has helped a multitude of local business owners throughout the region by providing opportunities to sell and advertise such as the Arts & Crafts fair. Phil Carlisle is the current CEO of the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce. "The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce works in an effort to help local businesses and their members prosper with whatever service or merchandise they're providing," Carlisle said. The fair was the first ever arts & crafts fair the chamber of commerce hosted but was just one of the many events the chamber of commerce throws on to help local business owners get their business name out and successfully move forward in their business. As explained by Carlisle, this particular year the chamber of commerce felt their needed to be an opportunity given to all those "artsy and crafty" business owners of the community. The chamber of commerce had never before hosted an arts & crafts fair before but they found it to be rather successful. "For it being the very first arts & craft fair we hosted it was pretty successful," explained Gay Turner, the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce event coordinator. "The hopes are it will become an annual event." The Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce had major support of the arts & crafts fair from many City of Loma Linda council members, organizations, and local clubs. Many members of organizations were present showing support and getting some holiday shopping such as the Inter-club Chair member of the Kiwanis Organization Division 47, Will Kading, and "Shop of the Cop" (an charitable event in Fontana that provides kids of low income families with surprise Christmas presents presented by a local cop) event contributor, House Holder Thomas Larry. The clubs and organization providing support were all big supporters of charity and the community such as the Kiwanis organization which helps evitalizing neighborhoods, organize youth - sports programs, and performing countless other projects to help children and communities. Just as these organizations provide a service to a community, the Loma Linda chamber of commerce also provides a service by giving back to all those local business owners, explained Kading. Not only did members of these organizations support but they also partcipated in it in an effort to fund money from which proceeds will go to the Ronald McDonald House. A total of 26 vendors participated in the Loma Linda Chamber of Commerce's first annual arts & crafts fair. "Its christmastime and people are christmas shopping so it was a good opportunity to come out here and share my craft with the Loma Linda community. For it being the first annual craft it's pretty good," said Cookie Lee Jewelry vendor, Ina Ramirez. The fair didm;t only benefit participants, but many spectators as well. Many people left the Civic Center with smiles and bags full of potential Christmas gifts. Herbert Grovechi, a spectator at the event, describe the fair as a great way to get any nice stuff at a low price.