Carolers welcomed people to the 32nd Annual Saint Matthew’s Christmas Faire.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
The St. Matthew’s Christmas Faire is an annual event sponsored by the Parish to raise money for its Outreach Partners.
This was the Faire’s 32 year, and it was held on November 17. Everyone who attended agreed it was a joyous night of giving.
“Delight in Honoring Each Other” was the theme of this year’s Faire.
Montana Coady and Michelle Miller were Senior Chairs, and Danielle Shahla and Drue Marshall were Junior Chairs and will become Senior Chairs next year.
The four agreed that “The event requires a lot of effort, but the work is joyful and such a wonderful community-building event.”
Chairs of the Christmas Faire (left to right) Danielle Shahla, Drue Marshall, Michelle Miller and Montana Coady were thanked by Reverend Bruce Freeman.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
One hundred percent of the net proceeds raised are donated to The Outreach Partners, a group of charitable organizations, that include Angel Interfaith Network (Project Angel), Chrysalis, GAIA Global Health, Hollygrove/Uplift Family Services (Pacific Clinics), Las Familias Del Pueblo, NYA (Neighborhood Youth Association, Pacific Palisades Outreach Team, PRISM/Restorative Justice, PRISM Picnic, Safe Place for Youth (SPY), St. Joseph Center, St. Joseph Center’s Bread & Roses Café, St. Margaret’s Center, The People Concern and the Venice Family Clinic.
These nonprofits provide critical support to low income and homeless individuals and families, and provide food, medical and housing services. The Faire offered a wide variety of ways for people to help support Outreach Partners, while socializing and having fun.
There was a Food Boutique, which offered granola, brownies, lemon bars, jams and cookies. A wine auction was held, after people generously donated different wines from Cabernet Sauvigons to Petit Syrah to Zinfandels.
People could sign up and pay to attend 24 different parties, hosted by parishioners. The variety of different parties included a Teppanyaki Dinner Party, Guys Night at the Lakers Game, Yoga and Cocktails under the Stars, House of Cards (poker and taro) and a Culinary Experience with Abundance & Company.
If a parishioner wanted to donate something for the auction, there was a gift registry that offered a variety of options such as Simon Pearce Five-Sided Evergreen Glass Set, A kids 12V Battery—powered fire truck, an X6 Hoverboard, Legos, bikes and a kids’ outdoor playhouse. The money generated from the donation went directly to The Outreach Partners.
The gym at St. Matthew’s school was decorated festively for the Christmas Faire.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT