A handmade Christmas market
Dementia HB sells its hand crafts
Dementia Hawke’s Bay is getting into the festive spirit, holding its first Twilight Christmas Market tomorrow night at its Hastings branch.
The Hastings Dementia Hawke’s Bay team is inviting the public to come along and enjoy live music, a sausage sizzle, barista coffee and check out the handmade gifts for Christmas. Hastings team leader Victoria Bond says the idea to hold the market came from those who attend the day programme.
Participants have different cognitive stimulation activities including learning new and maintaining current creative art, workshop and gardening skills. If all goods were then sold to support the fundraising efforts of the organisation, it would give purpose and meaning to all the creative therapy and workshop classes offered on a daily basis, Victoria says.
Unique handcrafted goods including driftwood trees, home de´ cor items, children’s night lights, a fairy corner, handmade chocolates and baking, jewellery, plants galore and even handmade dog biscuits will all be at the market.
There will also be a sausage sizzle run by the group’s volunteers and barista coffee to be enjoyed in the gardens, along with live entertainment.
Victoria says all goods made are unique.
“We pride ourselves that we have created arts and craft goods that are made from creative minds opposed to customer demand.”
She is looking forward to opening the centre’s doors to the public to showcase how their programme benefits people living well with dementia in the community.
“We will be showing off the many skills and hard work of our programme members and increasing public awareness of our service,” Victoria says.
More volunteers — kitchen support, drivers, gardeners, workshop enthusiasts — are always needed in both the Hastings and Napier day programmes.
■ Dementia HB Twilight Christmas Market, Thursday, November 1, 5pm7pm, 102 Windsor Avenue, Hastings. For more information email admin@dementiahb.org.nz or visit www.dementiahb.org.nz.
For Napier residents pop into 1 Wilding Avenue, Marewa, Napier or phone 06 834 0417.