Notre Dame Regional High School hosts 27th Annual Crafts, Gifts, and Collectibles Show; student volunteer shares experience

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – “You need to let everyone know that you care about them.” 

Which is exactly what Notre Dame High Schol student Nathaniel Imhoff has made sure to do this weekend at the 27th Annual Crafts, Gifts, and Collectibles Show. 

“This is my first year doing it. Last year, I skipped out, and I regret it so much because this year, it’s changed me,” Imhoff said. “Out of all the times I’ve volunteered in my life, this has got to be number one.” 

Imhoff says that over the course of the three-day show, he has noticed: “How much Notre Dame is a family.” 

The show benefits the performing and visual arts at Notre Dame, in which Imhoff is involved. 

Seeing students like Imhoff interact with the some 200 vendors at the show and volunteer their time to help warms organizer Deana Pecord’s heart. 

“I see all these vendors and I see the smiles on their faces, and I watch our students interact with them and learn to be service-oriented students to these people,” Pecord said. “It does my heart proud.” 

And Pecord said the students are learning valuable lessons in the process. 

“It is a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for these students to be involved with people who are trying to make a living. It’s wonderful for our students to be of service to them,” she said. “It’s wonderful for our students to see the hard work and effort that goes into it and let that be an example for them for their future endeavors.” 

There were more than 200 vendors at this year’s show, and attendance exceeded 5,000 over three days. The show raised $50,000 last year.