Handmade Goods Brings Community Together

With the arrival of the fall season brings the love for traditional homemade goods. This was no exception for homeowners of Sunnymead Ranch and surrounding community members in Moreno Valley who gathered together this past Saturday Oct. 10 for Sunnymead’s 5th annual Bake Sale and Craft show. The fair was held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Sunnymead Ranch club house. In the past, the fair was also open for the public to participate in which brought an array of 40 local vendors. Goods sold at the craft show ranged from homemade jewelry, holiday decorations, handmade dolls, and fleece blankets. The baked items sold included breads, chocolates, and spreads. The annual fair each year is planned by members of the Hospitality Committee at Sunnymead Ranch. Committee members this year also sold cookbooks with recipes submitted by the residents at the ranch. Chairmen of the Hospitality Committee, Sonnie Kenney, noted, “We started with 18-19 vendors. Today we have 40 and it has risen each year.” The fair ranged from new vendors to seasoned vendors. Estelle Way participated for the second time selling her hand puppets and dolls. “I did really well last time and they are so friendly. I enjoy meeting new people.” Kathie Pool, a first time vendor and resident enjoyed seeing others at the fair. “Meeting more people who live on the ranch and some who don’t, it’s fun to see what they are doing,” she said. Friends Michelle Hunt and Veronica (Peaches) Shelby attended together. “We are just having a good time,” Hunt remarked. The pair sold a variety of chocolate at their table, including Hunt’s chocolate cookies and pretzels. Shelby brought chocolate covered strawberries. “My favorite part was socializing with everyone, getting to meet different vendors. I really enjoyed,” Shelby said. Rose Williams has been a vendor since the beginning, and participating in the fair has meant a great deal to her over time. “I just enjoy being here," Williams said. "It’s very rewarding and I like people. Everyone here has to like people, especially vendors. We all come into contact with people. You have to be patient. A smile I can catch and give back. A laugh I can catch and give back. Those are the things I really enjoy.” What makes the Bake Sale and Craft fair a success each year are the members of the community who come to show their support. “We support our local community,” Lekeisha Mazur remarked. Kenney and her committee are working to keep the fair going. With the next one planned for Oct. 8, 2016 she hopes to continue to see the fair grow. She said, “I hope it gets bigger and that it draws in more members from the community.”