Residents at the HALO home for girls may be working a little harder than normal these days.
They’re producing cheese boards and Christmas ornaments to raise money for the home, HALO founder Rebecca Welsh said.
Staff at the home acquired 248 clear glass ornaments for the girls to work on. The girls begin the process by swirling floor finish inside the bulbs. Then they pour in glitter or paint and swirl that around, too.
Before long, they’ve created beautiful art-glass bulbs, Welsh said.
They complete the process by placing the caps on — and tying ribbons to — the bulbs.
The finished products are to be sold at Holiday Mart JC, said Antwanette Talley, a residential supervisor at the HALO home.
The one-day market is at a new location this year — Capital Bluffs Event Center, 1616 Oil Well Road.
The third annual event is to take place 4:30-8 p.m. Nov. 7.
About 50 vendors, boutiques, artisans, and food and beverage creators will be on hand to offer their products.
Tickets are $5 and are available at the door but may be purchased in advance at holidaymartjc.com through Friday.
Proceeds from the mart will benefit the HALO Foundation and Samaritan Center.
The Samaritan Center serves as a food pantry and offers seasonal clothing, blankets and household items for community members. It also provides a free clinic for people without Medicaid or other insurance. It provides families with Thanksgiving meals and Christmas gifts and meals.
HALO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports homeless and at-risk children. It has branches in Jefferson City, Kansas City, New York City and Portland, Oregon, but reaches around the world.
There are nine girls living in the Jefferson City home — with three babies and another on the way, Welsh said.
“We have a floor for maternity and a floor for kids who are single,” Welsh said.
Money raised during the Holiday Mart will meet specific needs, she said. And some will be used to provide gift cards for the girls — something like an allowance.