Gift Basket Contests Challenge Creative and Generous Residents

The annual Saline Spring Craft Show is less than a month away, taking place from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 9 at .

Once again, organizers of the show are challenging every individual, classroom team, family and business in the community to compete in the fourth annual Gift Basket Contest. But no matter who designs the winning baskets, the real winners of the contest will be four local charities: , , Food Gatherers and the Salvation Army.

During the craft show, shoppers will vote for their favorite baskets with money—a penny is worth one vote, and a dollar is worth 100 votes. At the end of the day, whoever designed the basket that raised the most money wins the contest. Funds raised during voting and the goods in the baskets are donated to the charities.

Prizes will be awarded to the winner and runner-up in each thematic category.

“A few years ago, (Saline Area Schools Superintendent) Scot Graden and I were talking about the Spring Craft Show, and Scot noted that everyone thinks about charities at Christmas," said Cheryl Hoeft, organizer of the Saline Craft Shows. "But people are a lot less likely to think about charities around Easter.

“The shelves at the local charities get emptied in the spring, and we wanted to do something about that,” Hoeft said.

So she and organized a food basket contest with the idea that money and food would be donated to the charities. Within a few years, the contest opened up beyond food baskets.

“People around here are very creative. They’re always coming up with different ideas and themes,” said Hoeft. “One year, the Foundation for Saline Area Schools created a great basket full of books. Last year, there was a great basket with the ‘going to the beach’ theme.”

Entries will be placed into one of the following categories: Prekindergarten through sixth grade (group), seventh through 12th grade (group), over-18 (individual), business (group), or family/church/nonprofit (group). It is not required that the container holding the items be a basket. Entries may include nonperishable food items, books, toys, games and more. They may not include perishable food or items such as tobacco or alcohol.

Entrants are asked to preregister from 3-6 p.m. March 31 or from noon-4 p.m. April 8 at the Saline Area Schools Community Education office in Liberty School.

The other gift basket program is aimed at Saline Area Schools administrators, staff and students. They’re being to create baskets for a silent auction. Proceeds once again benefit the four charities and, as part of the deal, Graden must make breakfast for the creators of the basket that earns the most money during the auction. Entrants in the auction should have a member of their team register a basket from 3-6 p.m. April 1 or April 8 at Saline Middle School.

Baskets may contain nonperishable food items, games, toys, cards, books and more. Baskets may be labeled with the creators’ names. A list stating the baskets’ contents and estimated value may also be provided.

For more information, contact Hoeft at 734-429-5922.

The craft show will feature more than 135 booths, concessions, raffles, cookie sales and more. Children’s activities, including cookie decorating, arts and crafts, visits with Peter Cottontail and caricatures, take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

For more information, visit salineshows.com.