KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

It’s never too early to start holiday shopping, and those looking for something handmade can stop by the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club’s craft show this weekend.

The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club’s annual Kiwanis Kraft Show is set to take place Friday, Nov. 22, and Saturday, Nov. 23. According to Kiwanis Kraft Show Chairperson and club treasurer Bob Barksdale, the show will be packed with handmade crafts and gifts perfect for the upcoming holiday season.

“The two-day event will display unique handcrafted trade items mainly from crafters here in Southern Middle Tennessee and we also have some from surrounding areas,” Barksdale said. “The crafts include jewelry, leather products, clothing articles, quilts, sometimes there are handbags and there’s wood crafted items.”

He added there are booths that may have canned goods, homemade baked goods, and candy.

The craft show will take place in the Tullahoma First Methodist Church Family Activity Center, located at 210 W. Lauderdale St.  Doors open at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 and close at 5 p.m. The craft show will reopen at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, and close around 4 p.m.

All proceeds from booth space rentals and snack bar sales from this event go toward funding the Kiwanis mission of helping children and children related activities in the Tullahoma area. The mission of the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club and that of Kiwanis International is to improve the world one child and one community at a time.

Barksdale said there are still a few slots available for vendors. For more information contact Barksdale at kiwaniskraftshow@gmail.com.

The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club is also partnering with Tullahoma High School Marine Corps JROTC Battalion and McAlister’s to raise funds for Toys for Tots on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 4:30 to 8 p.m. 

“We encourage Tullahoma residents to come out and join us at McAlister’s and help us in collecting new unwrapped gifts to be donated,” Barksdale said. “In addition, McAlister’s is going to donate 10% of all sales during that period for the Toys for Tots program.”

The Tullahoma Kiwanis Club will also be volunteering this Christmas to ring the Salvation Army bells at Hobby Lobby on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Tullahoma Kiwanis is always looking to have new members join the club that have a desire to help and serve children in the Tullahoma area. If anyone is interested in helping children reach their potential and participating in community activities, they are encouraged to stop by at one of Tullahoma Kiwanis Club’s meetings at Grace Baptist Church, located at at 1901 Ovoca Road, from 6 to 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday evening of each month.

 For more information the Kraft Show or about joining the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club, contact Barksdale at 931-581-3683 or Tullahoma Kiwanis Club President Charla Graves at 931-409-2527.