SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL of VISALIA FUNDRAISER

SI of Visalia has one fundraiser per year: Top of the Line, an annual craft show on the first full weekend of November. We have three coordinators for the event, Vendor Coordinator, Promotion Coordinator and Operations Coordinator, each having their own crew to assist them. The craft show is a joint effort and all club members participate, year round if necessary. We even use clubs from the local high schools and college and in return donate to their service projects.

We rent the Visalia Convention Center for the whole weekend, even gaining access on Thursday evening to mark floors for vendor booths. Friday morning approximately 250 vendors start arriving and setting up their booths. Friday evening is the “Very Important Buyer” Party, which is a preview and sale including a buffet. Those attending also have return privileges on Saturday or Sunday.

The craft show is open to the public Saturday and Sunday and the admission is $5.00. The SPCA sells cats and dogs at the entrance to the convention center on Saturday. The proceeds earned from the craft show, approximately $44,000, goes back to the community in service projects and scholarships. This fundraiser has been a very rewarding project for our club.