Opportunity Center to host 'OC Jubilee Craft & Vendor Fair'

The Opportunity Center of Owensboro will host its “OC Jubilee Craft & Vendor Fair” — a fundraising initiative for the organization that will feature its participants and local entities — from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 24-25 at the center, 3560 New Hartford Road.

Chelsey Robison, the center’s communications manager, said the idea for the two-day event came about when the nonprofit received “tons” of seasonal decor items donated to be used for programming efforts and its participants.

“We were trying to think, ‘What could we do with all of this stuff?’ A lot of it was decor that we could use for maybe (some of the center’s) parties, but a vast majority of it we couldn’t really use here for anything,” Robison said.

Robison said the center decided to put the surplus up for sale to the public to help raise money for the organization while also giving the participants a chance to have hands-on work experience such as pricing items, setting up inventory, handling money and customer service.

“... People without disabilities … have been offered more experiences than people with disabilities have,” Robison said. “A lot of these things, our participants have never gotten to experience (such as) run a lemonade stand (type of) thing, or set up their own little sale or even sell things on … Facebook Marketplace ….

“It’s all about new experiences and finding out the things they enjoy doing. This might spark interest in a career in selling products or making homemade goods,” Robison said. “We have several (participants) that are really talented that can crochet afghans and blankets and all sorts of things, and this might inspire them to start selling to the public and make a profit off of that.”

Additionally, Robison said the center is seeking at least 10 craft vendors from the public to participate.

“It really doesn’t matter what you sell as long as it’s not used items. We want it to be homemade crafts and (objects) like that,” Robison said. “(It’s) another way to get some community integration in (the center) and (have) us work with different types of people.”

Table space for vendors is $30, with set up taking place on July 23. Vendors will receive one 96”x30” table, a black table cloth and two chairs. Participating vendors will keep all profits from their respective sales.

Robison said the funds are planned to be used to purchase a virtual reality system, similar to the one that the Cliff Hagan Boys & Girls Club recently received a grant for its workforce readiness efforts that allows kids explore a number of career paths via Transfr virtual software that goes onto an Oculus virtual-reality headset.

Other possibilities of how to use the funds include programming activities that are not in the center’s allotted budget.

If interested in being a vendor or for more information, contact Robison at at [email protected] or 270-685-2976.