UCS Developmental Services division gathers 30 community vendors at annual Holiday Craft Fair

United Counseling Service’s (UCS) Developmental Services division hosted its annual Holiday Craft Fair on December 6 at Grace Christian School, bringing together 30 vendors and raising over $700 for the agency’s Community Supports program. Community Supports helps adults with developmental disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder navigate, integrate, and create meaningful connection in their community.

“The best part about this year’s Holiday Craft Fair was how well integrated our clients were amongst the crowd of vendors, making it the best example of inclusivity I’ve witnessed,” says UCS Direct Support Professional Roxy Iskowitz, who organizes the event each year. “That was the goal and it will continue to be—creating an experience where our clients feel fully integrated in their community.”

The event included five UCS employee vendors, 15 community vendors and 10 UCS client vendors. Clients participating in UCS’ Community Supports program hosted a vendor table at the event and sold items they created from October through December in a weekly art class.

UCS vendor tables offered handcrafted wreaths and other décor, crocheted items, and other holiday inspired items. Shoppers and vendors enjoyed holiday music from Local band All Ten, who performed in the entryway. Community vendors included Double-Dippin, who sold their dry herb mixes, Pam Perry, selling her own kitchen towel sets, mittens, and more, as well as Corinne Bakaitis, selling her own crocheted items. The Quilted Jardin by Martha Beauchamp, attended, selling her custom quilted animal portraits. Local Christen Crawford and her husband set up selling handmade holiday items along with their local honey. Melissa Hunter of Nuts and Whimsy attended for the fourth year selling handmade gourd lamps and other handcrafted nature-inspired creations.

The Holiday Craft Fair was a success and UCS clients all look forward to next year’s event. UCS thanks Grace Christian School for providing a welcoming venue for this special community event to kick off the holiday season.

United Counseling Service (UCS) is committed to helping individuals and families in Bennington County live healthy, meaningful lives. Our work spans mental health, substance use treatment, intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and early childhood development. UCS is a private, non-profit community mental health center that has been an essential part of Bennington County’s integrated healthcare system since 1958. The organization has been designated as a Center of Excellence by Vermont Care Partners. For more information or to access our services, visit www.ucsvt.org or call (802) 442-5491.