Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
Ark/Knuckle Up Ministries held its annual Peddler’s Faire early this October. The church hosted the event at its own facility.
According to the organizers, Olivia Villanueva and Tammy Birchfield, proceeds from vendor sales went directly back to the church, and all the different ministries of the church.
Beverly Freiberg, who was vending at the event, told the Kern Valley Sun that the event founder Jeanette Rogers-Erickson has been doing the event for over twenty years. “It just brings people into the church. What we really want to do is introduce ourselves and just have fun. The money goes to send a child to camp,” she said.
Birchfield confirmed that Rogers-Erickson, who just turned 90 years old this September, founded the event all those years ago. She’s also retiring and had antiques for sale, along with over 50 other vendors complimenting her excellent tastes. “Initially the Peddler’s Faire was supposed to be a time for people to come into the church community and mingle, and go to each booth, and buy a raffle ticket,” Birchfield said.
Villanueva said, “The purpose is to raise money for our ministry, for Knuckle Up Ministries, which is a church. We have different ministries. We have Celebrate Recovery. We have the Youth (Group.) We have Women of Faith. We have the Men’s Bible Study as well, amid others.”
Charlene Coleman was at the event serving along with other volunteers. She said, “We’re working to help put money into the Soup Kitchen, here, so we can feed the community.”
Birchfield said the event was the, “Biggest fundraiser of the year. We’re appreciative for everyone who came to support us. This is the 27th year. We plan on keeping it going.”
Villanueva said, “We want to thank everybody that did come out to support us and to show up and help our ministry to grow.”
