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Crafters come to the rescue
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Susan Draghi of Liberty won a blue ribbon for her ladybug fleece blanket at the Canfield Fair. Draghi’s blanket, along with other entries, are a part of a fair contest called “The Fair That Cares.” The homemade blankets will be collected and sent to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
‘The Fair That Cares’ helps needy at mission
CANFIELD
The blue ribbon on Susan Draghi’s throw blanket will go home with her after the fair, but the blanket will be given to someone in need.
Draghi, along with 50 other people, entered “The Fair That Cares” division of Domestic Arts and Crafts at the Canfield Fair. All entries in the division are judged and then donated to the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. Participants can make gift baskets, homemade covers and throws or stuffed toys.
“I enter mostly because it does somebody some good,” Draghi said.
“The Fair That Cares” began seven years ago, and in that time, participants have donated 478 gift baskets filled with toiletries, clothes, school supplies and other items, said Kathy Bennett, who manages the Fine Arts, Floral and Arts and Crafts buildings.
“People from the community give so much to the fair, and it’s a way to give back,” Bennett said. “We chose the Rescue Mission because it serves men, women and children.”
The judges look for attractiveness and creativity of the baskets but also their usefulness, said Lisa Toy, superintendent of the Arts & Crafts building.
“What is interesting is we have people who enter it and don’t enter in anything else. Some do it year after year. They really are special,” she said.
“We thought the numbers would have dropped off in the recession, but it’s stayed even. People that can give will give,” Toy added.
Draghi said she began entering gift baskets when the division first started, and then she switched to the stuffed-toy category. She made her first blanket, a panda design, last year.
Draghi added that she’s been attending the fair her entire life and watched relatives enter contests in the arts and crafts.
“The fair’s a family tradition,” she said.
Her sister, Cindy DeWalk of Liberty, also took part in “The Fair That Cares” and earned second place for her basket filled with Ohio State University items.
“I was inspired by my sister,” DeWalk said. “It makes me feel very good that this goes to people in need and that’s part of the reason I’ve done this.”