Notre Dame High School has their annual Christmas Craft Fair to raise money for students

CAPE GIRARDEAU Mo. (KBSI) – Every weekend before Thanksgiving Notre Dame High School opens up the opportunity to have people show off their DIY projects and talents while bringing community and smiles to the school.

This decade long tradition wrapped up on Sunday night. Allison Pfau is a local mom from Cape Girardeau and a Notre Dame Alumni. She’s been a participating vendor for the past three years. It makes her happy to see the new students come in and help like she did when she was younger. 

“I actually went to school here. So, it’s a fun way to come back and see alumni as well. And teachers. but yeah, we’re here in the Cape Girardeau area as well,” said Pfau. 

Pfau says the craft fair means a lot to her. She sees familiar faces and spends time with her family while being able to sell the crafts they worked on together. 

“It’s a little side business that’s with my mom and my sister, and we’re just doing it for fun.”

There are 200 vendors who pay to be a part of this craft show. 

The money that the vendors pay to participate goes back to the classrooms and theater department. 

Students are here to help make sure every vendor has everything and is set up correctly, they also help with the cleanup. 

As far as running a big craft show like this, leave it to Deana Pecord. She’s been running it since it started in 2012. She puts her faith and trust in her students as they are the working hands to get these vendors up and going. 

“There are many things I like about it, but Notre Dame has a mission to turn our children into apostles. This is the perfect avenue for that. We bring these vendors in, and these vendors don’t have to lift a thing. Our students, all of our performing and visual arts students are required to be here. They load everything from the vendors in. They meet them in their cars, bring everything in,” said Pecord. 

To Pecord, she thinks this is the best way to get fundraising for the kids and also make themselves proud of helping out the community. 

“And what better community service for our students and to show them when the vendor looks back at them and says, thank you so much. You’re so helpful. That makes those kids feel good about themselves, and it tells them that’s a good thing to do. And we love that. And everybody gets to see our beautiful school and everybody gets to see. We’re not perfect, but we try really hard to raise apostles,” said Pecord.

Notre Dame does not have any other craft fair besides this one, but they try to do some form of fundraising throughout the year.