Oakdale Craft Fairs offer a vibrant and enriching experience for the whole community while supporting a meaningful cause. Under the meticulous organization of Kathleen Jeffrey, these fairs connect artisans and visitors in a celebration of creativity. Oakdale Craft Fairs play a crucial role in supporting the Variety Learning Centre, a charity dedicated to assisting neurodivergent children through tutoring, therapies, and programming. By attending Oakdale Craft Fairs, guests support both a noteworthy cause and local artisans. We connected with Kathleen to learn more.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
Variety Learning Centre – which is the charity that runs Oakdale Craft Fairs – has been in existence for over 30 years. It is a charity that works with neurodivergent, children providing tutoring, therapies, and programming. I have been working with them since 1994 in a number of capacities, including in education and now as charity head.
What problem does it aim to solve?
We want to provide quality services (educational and therapeutic) for neurodivergent children. We try to do this for the most reasonable rate/cost we can raising funds to offset costs.
When did you start/join it?
I have been working with this charity since 1994. The charity itself has been in existence since 1989.
Oakdale Craft Fair started about five years ago. I am a maker myself and know many people within the community and felt that this was a way to help the charity as 100% of the profits from the table rentals and donations go to the charity. I do not receive any money for organizing the market and do this in my spare time to help.
This also provides a safe space for our older neurodivergent children to volunteer and learn skills.
What made you want to get involved?
I have been in the field of education for over 30 years, and I’ve always believed in a strong way in helping neurodivergent children succeed.
It’s a pleasure to organize and be a part of these markets and watch them grow. It’s a pleasure to watch people come and enjoy them. It’s a pleasure to help out the making/artisan community by keeping our fees lower so that makers can benefit from our markets as well.
We also try to do things to support the community by having free giveaways at the door… Free door prizes… Santa photos by donation to help out families that may not be able to pay the higher prices for a Santa Claus photo. Free face painting. Free balloon art. It can be expensive to be a family and provide a fun day for your family without great expense so we try and incorporate these things – particularly at Christmas time – with fun activities that are free.
Of course, we also hope families will come out and support the artisans of the market! They work so hard!
What was the situation like when you started?
We were a much smaller organization. I’m proud to say that I’ve helped it to grow which increases our outreach and capability to help others. The Craft Fairs grow bigger and more well-attended every year.
How has it changed since?
The charity has grown and evolved to incorporate such things as Oakdale Craft Fairs.
What more needs to be done?
It’s very hard, particularly lately, to raise funds for charity. We struggle on a daily basis.
How can our readers help?
Please come and attend a market and help support our charity! They are extremely fun. All of the profits go to a good cause! And as a bonus, you are helping other small business makers/artisans support themselves as well.
In addition, when you come out to the Craft Fair, you support the charity by attending, which in turn makes vendors and makers want to attend. This gives us a better ability to sell our “space “ to vendors.
Do you have any events coming up?
Yes, we sure do! We do 3 to 4 events a year.
June 21. 11 – 530 Oakdale Summer Solstice Psychic Fair and Equinox Market
October 25. 11-5 Oakdale Halloween Psychic Fair and Enchanted Market
November 22 11-5 Oakdale Christmas Craft Fair
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
We always pay it forward by having Katie‘s Place nonprofit no-kill cat shelter in Maple Ridge at our events. They are the most amazing organization and we always give them free space to sell their crafts (my son and I also make and donate crafts to them for sale) and raise money for the shelter. I also volunteer there on the weekends with my son. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the work they do!
