"It's our 35th year. It's a big year for us," Eileen Shipe commented, noting that for 34 years, Salem United Church of Christ (UCC) of Rohrerstown, 2312 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, has hosted a holiday bazaar on the first Saturday of November.
The inventory for the inaugural event and those that followed were handcrafted by church members, who made ornaments, home decor, and more. Eventually, the bazaar began to include outside vendors, with Shipe coordinating their participation. Church members still contributed items that were featured in a type of silent auction.
In June, while the church building was in its fourth month of closure to all activities, Shipe and her committee realized they needed a different plan for the bazaar. Rather than hold the bazaar in person, they thought to host it online. When it was not feasible for vendors to participate, the bazaar came full circle, with church members once again providing the entire inventory for what has been dubbed the Bizarre Bazaar. The event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Salem members have donated about 45 themed baskets for the bazaar. "They're unbelievable," Shipe said. "Most of the baskets are worth close to $100. They have everything under the sun: for kids, for adults, wine, Mickey Mouse, (and) Hershey Spa with a $100 gift certificate."
"I was really impressed," added church council member and webmaster Alex DiMarzio. "They really turned out."
DiMarzio has cataloged the baskets and their contents at https://salem-ucc-roh.square.site. Individuals may visit the website until Friday, Nov. 6, to view the baskets, buy tickets to enter to win the lots of their choosing, and order food prepared by the Salem Servers. Additionally, tickets will be available at the Bizarre Bazaar from 9 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 7. The drawings will begin at noon and will be livestreamed on Salem UCC's Facebook page. The recording will be posted at http://www.salemuccroh.org, and winners will be contacted.
The Bizarre Bazaar's menu will include quarts of mincemeat, hamburger barbecue, beef vegetable soup, and vegetarian vegetable soup as well as pumpkin pies and sticky buns. Orders may be picked up curbside at the church from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 7. Extras - as supplies last - will be available that morning for those who did not preorder.
The proceeds from the Bizarre Bazaar will be used to continue restoring the historic church building and for mission outreach. DiMarzio noted that the council is considering expanding the iPad lending program that enables homebound individuals to participate in online church activities.
Guests are invited to visit Salem's Sunday worship services, which begin at 10 a.m., in person or via the livestream at http://www.salemuccroh.org. In-person services follow COVID-19 mitigation guidelines. "All are welcome," DiMarzio said.
For more information about the Bizarre Bazaar or for help with the event website, readers may contact DiMarzio at 215-715-6996 or amdimarz@gmail.com.
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