With a high-value Megabasket raffle and at least 60 more exciting raffle baskets up for grabs, baskets of funding support will be raised from raffle proceeds to benefit Food Pantry of North Branford (FPNB) at the third annual Crafters Care fair on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The quality artisan handcraft vendors event returns to town Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to the field at Doody's Inn and Restaurant, 465 Foxon Road. The event will feature 55 top-notch, artisan handcraft vendors from across Connecticut with wares on display and on sale. Admission is free.

Since 2020, volunteer Crafters Care Events organizer Kim Mucha of Northford has been developing craft sales and other community events and offerings, including her “Megabasket” fundraising idea, to benefit FPNB. Along the way, Mucha has raised approximately $10,000 for non-profit, all-volunteer FPNB.

On Sept. 24, she hopes to up the ante by raising event more money and is excited for the return of the Megabasket to assist with fundraising. Mucha first developed the wildly popular fundraiser during the pandemic, when she went door-to-door to collect donated gift cards from area merchants and businesses to fill the basket and raffle it off to benefit FPNB

Speaking with Zip06/The Sound on Sept. 14, Mucha said the value of the Sept. 24 event’s Megabasket is still growing.

“Right now, the Megabasket’s value is at $1,800, and we’re still soliciting more,” said Mucha. “It’s filled with gift cards and services donated by all local businesses from North Branford, Branford, North Haven, and Guilford. Everybody got in on it.”

Tickets for the winner-take-all Megabasket, $5 each, have been on sale since Aug. 1 and can be purchased in advance through Friday, Sept. 23 by messaging Mucha at the Crafters Care Facebook community events page. Megabasket tickets can also be purchased in-person at Crafters Care on the day of the event, Sept. 24.

Mucha is also once again grateful to Doody’s for providing the field use for the event. She thanks vendors for contributed gift baskets to the raffle as well as many community members who are also compiling and donating raffle baskets. Tickets for raffle baskets are $1 each, or $20 for 25 tickets, and will be on sale at the event.

“We’re just trying to make this bigger and better every year,” said Mucha.

All drawings will take place at 2 p.m. at the field on Saturday, Sept. 24, said Mucha. Winners need not be present for the Megabasket or basket drawings.

Also of special note: although past Crafters Care events have also collected food donations for FPBN, this year, FPNB has requested that no food donations be brought to the event. Funds from raffle tickets sales will help FPNB purchase needed items. As a member of the Connecticut Food Bank, FPNB receives free or low-cost food. FPNB also has retail partnerships with Big Y and Ceccarelli Farm.

Located in the lower level of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 1382 Middletown Ave. in Northford, FPBN’s mission is to provide free supplemental groceries to those in need. As an all-volunteer organization, 100 percent of all food and monetary donations directly benefit clients. For more information, visit foodpantrynb.org