Daleville ‘Fall Vendor, Craft Fair’ a success

The purpose of the Fall Vendor and Craft Fair was to raise awareness of and provide a means to help offset the cost of the Community Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored annually by Kim and Chris Wood.

Owners of Choppers Ol’ School BBQ in Donnell Plaza in Daleville, the Woods—with the assistance of an army of volunteers—cook and distribute free Thanksgiving dinners to any community members interested in attending and for area first responders who are working Thanksgiving Day.

“Throughout the year we’ve done some fundraising to help offset the cost of the Thanksgiving meal,” said Chris Wood as he watched the flurry of activity as nearly 30 vendors set up booths inside the restaurant and outside in the parking lot as part of the second vendor fair held Oct. 16.

Each participating vendor made a contribution to the Thanksgiving meal fund, Wood said. “The community has really come out to support us and that is very appreciated.”

Handcrafted items such as wooden door signs, wreathes, clothes, dream catchers and an item billed as “Hillbilly Wind Chimes,” were among the items available for sale at the event.

The Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce held an inaugural Scrabble Run the same day with the ending point at the community vendor fair. “A motorcycle Scrabble Run is similar to a motorcycle Poker Run but instead of picking up playing cards, you pick up scrabble tiles,” explained Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce Director Michelle Powell, adding that prizes were awarded for the rider that can create the longest word with his or her scrabble tiles and one for the rider who has the worst word.

“We wanted to have it on this day when Choppers had their vendor fair going on to make it a community event,” Powell added.

“It’s all about community,” Chris Wood agreed.