On Saturday Nov. 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., UCC Boxborough will showcase its 91st Merrie Christmas fair. A Boxborough tradition since 1933, this local fair continues to evolve and grow, including the fair’s commitment to the environment and becoming a “greener” event. “When you shop for handmade items created by your neighbors, you are not only getting something unique, but you are also buying one less item from a big-ticket store or Amazon,” says this year’s fair co-chair Mary Pavlik. “Not only that, but your money also supports this community church and its partnerships – and ten percent of this year’s profits will go directly to North Central Massachusetts Habitat for Humanity.”
“Sustainability is important to the Boxborough church,” says church member Kellie Senghas, a part of the Attic Treasures team. “‘Caring for the world’ is one of our three central mission statements. Each year at the fair we strive to make the whole event greener. For instance, our Sugar Plum café uses compostables to avoid plastic waste. Attic Treasures fills the Grange Room at Town Hall with donated items that need a new home. We just love the process of receiving items from individuals who don’t need them anymore and then seeing them leave with new people who are excited to buy and enjoy them.”
These treasures are available at very low pricing deliberately. “Many people do their shopping for the holidays right in Attic Treasures,” says Kellie. “Not only are the items affordable and in good condition, but a recycled gift also helps keep them out of landfills,” she adds. “Our goal is to have nothing left to throw away. We have arranged for items not purchased at the end of the fair to be donated to organizations such as Household Goods, and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. A triple win for the community.”
Donations from the community are encouraged. Goods need to be in clean, working condition and might include household goods, kitchenware, small appliances, electronics, toys, games, sporting goods, linens, office supplies and equipment, tools, and luggage. Items NOT accepted include clothing, shoes, curtain hardware, used pet items, and medical equipment. Please hold items until Thursday, Nov. 21s for drop-off from 5-8 p.m. at the Town Hall or Friday from noon-5:00 p.m. A pod on the corner of the church lawn will be used for short term storage before and after the fair.
UCC Boxborough (a partner with FreeBee Market) has its Merrie Christmas fair on Nov. 23 at 723 Middle Road Boxborough from 9-1pm with its online Silent Auction opening Nov. 13-Nov. 23 at https://www.biddingforgood.com/UCCBSilentAuction.
For more information, contact the church office at 978-263-7387.
Mary Pavlik has been a resident of Boxborough since 1981 and a member of UCC Boxborough since 1987. She retired after 25 years teaching at Blanchard Memorial School. Mary is chair of the Boxborough town Well-Being Committee, an occasional writer for the Boxborough News, and co-chair with Laurel Dickson-Bull of this year’s Merrie Christmas Fair.