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WILKES-BARRE — This weekend’s temperatures might seem more like spring than winter, but inside St. Nick’s-St. Mary’s gymnasium an event jumped the calendar straight to summer.
The annual Winter Bazaar was held all day Friday at the school, Co-Chairwoman Alaina Lutz said. Lutz said she’s been involved with the school for the past 11 years and the “tradition” predates her.
At the back of the gym, Lacey Keiper, 2, was holding “Bear,” a stuffed animal that her father, Raymond, won on chances. Keiper was watching her brother, Dominick Donato, throw basketballs.
Dontato, 6, a kindergartner at the school, was lucky. He won three prizes, but none more special than the basket full of candy Raymond was holding.
The fun evening has become a custom for the family, Raymond said.
“We go to all the bazaars (in the summer) but this is the only winter one,” he said.
Chrissy Revitt, 17, a Holy Redeemer High School student, was working the Shark Mouth game, where children attempt to throw balls into a shark’s mouth.
“I come every year,” she said, noting this is the first year she had to be on the other side of the table handling the money. “All my friends from school used to come.”
Revitt called the event “family friendly” with fun, games and great food.
She wasn’t sure if she had more fun working or playing the games, but being able to work the bazaar meant she was able to “make the games fun for the kids.”
Lutz said the bazaar is staffed by mostly volunteers, like Revitt, but some teachers as well.
Kindergarden teacher Kathy Rother was manning the 50/50 drawings and sign-ups for the hottest game,“Pie the Principal.”
“It’s a big fundraiser. I like to donate my time,” said Rother, who has taught at the school for 11 years. She enjoys watching kids, and because the “children look forward to the event,” it was a no-brainer to work a table.
Rother explained the children get into a post-Christmas mood, and the event is a good way to perk them up as they get ready to head into the final part of the school year.
The funds raised, Lutz said, will stay at the school and be used for class trips, building upgrades and other related expenses. The Parent-Teacher Guild was hoping to raise $15,000 during the carnival.
