In an effort to create a fun, easy, creative, inexpensive way for children to craft homemade, heartfelt, keepsake holiday gifts for family and friends, the Deep River Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will hold its fourth annual Winter Wonderland Fundraiser event on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Deep River Elementary School gym.

The cost for this festive event is $5 per child. Children will have the unique opportunity to design and create one-of-a-kind holiday masterpieces that will be treasured for years to come by everyone on their list. There will be 12 crafting work stations set up and volunteers at each station to help elementary school aged children to create their gifts.

“This is a fun way for kids to make presents for their families, while the parents have an opportunity to shop,” explained event co-chair Jane Scott-Lavezzoli. “Plus it’s a nice way to make giving more hands-on. Handmade gifts have more thought and are more creative, especially when they come from kids.”

In addition to crafting opportunities for children, there will also be a dozen local artisans on site selling handmade wares for the holiday season.

So far the line-up includes jewelry makers, a quilt maker (who also makes hand bags, scarves, and ornaments), a metalsmith, recycled fabric goods, a print maker, cookies in a jar mixes, handmade cards and illustrations, and more.

“The event has progressively gotten bigger and bigger each year,” said Scott-Lavezzoli, who calls this her favorite fundraiser of the year. “This is the fourth year we have done this and it is always a good time. The gym is bustling with holiday music and noise. Everyone gets into the spirit. The kids are all doing hands-on crafts with their friends and parents get a chance to catch up with one another, while getting some holiday shopping done. It works for everyone.”

Deep River Elementary School President PTO Paula Weglarz said, “This event is amazing! Everyone has a great time and everyone is welcome...It is a nice way to make holiday giving about more than just what is spent on a gift.”