TMS hosts tree sale, craft show

Beginning the morning of Saturday, Nov. 18, Thermopolis Middle School will be home to some holiday spirit through the Beta Sigma Phi sorority and People For People.

The Beta Sigma Phi Holiday Affair sale will begin at 9 a.m. at the school gymnasium. Featuring hand-crafted items as well local retail distributors, the sale provides an opportunity to get a jump start on the holiday shopping.

Ranae Baldes with the local Xi Alpha Sigma chapter of the sorority said there about 30 vendors already signed up for the show, and there are still some spots open.

Right around 10 a.m., there will also be a lunch menu available, including Sloppy Joes, hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos and a variety of pies.

Proceeds from the sale will go back to the community, Baldes said. In past years, the money has been provided to the school nurse, Hot Springs County Library, H.O.P.E. Agency and families in need.

At the same time as the sale is kicking off, People For People will have their Tree Lot and Chair-ity sale, with proceeds to benefit the Backpack Program.

Judy Carswell with People for People said there have been about 40 chairs decorated, all done by volunteers. All of the decorated pieces “started out as chairs,” Carswell said, indicating some of the finished products might not be immediately recognizable as chairs.

Carswell said there were also volunteers who still wanted to decorate trees for the sale, so there about nine or 10 of them as well. Trees and chairs will go to the highest bidder during a silent auction on Nov. 18. Last year the auction generated about $5,000, Carswell said, which is about half of the money needed for the Backpack Program, which provides food for students in need.

The auction, as well as the sale in the gymnasium, are scheduled to end at 3 p.m.