A holiday wonderland in support of Almost Home takes place this weekend

As November draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to get into the holiday spirit, with a market, music, Santa, and more, all in support of Almost Home.

The Almost Home Winter Makers Market and Christmas Village will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 at the Ambassador Hotel and Conference Centre. A day full of fun for the whole family, the event features draws and giveaways, a silent auction, and the perfect place to pick up some gifts for those on your list: A vendor market featuring 40 local crafters, artisans, and makers.

At the same time, the event hopes to raise money for Almost Home while celebrating the holidays with the community. With that in mind, there will be plenty to do for young attendees, including visits with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Christmas Singalong with local celebrated children’s entertainer David Archibald from 2 to 4 p.m., and local musicians playing your favourite holiday tunes throughout the whole day.

For those with Almost Home, the event serves as one of their biggest fundraisers annually, allowing them to continue offering a place for sick children and their families to stay while receiving treatment at Kingston Hospitals.

“Almost Home receives no government or agency funding, and so our organization operates because of the generosity of those in our area. Events like this help us raise the funds we need to continue and also let people in our community know about our home and the work that we do,” said Sam MacLeod, Fund Development Manager with Almost Home.

“Without events like our Winter Market we would not be able to continue and so it is a vital part of keeping our doors open.”

Almost Home acts as ‘home’ for the children and families it works with, providing amenities and support for families supporting young ones through sickness, injury, and recovery. Since its inception 27 years ago, the charity has served over 6,000 families – some for days, most for weeks, and, in many cases, for months or ongoing through years.

“The purpose of Almost Home is to provide a place of respite and comfort to families with sick children while also helping to relieve the financial burden a family encounters when a child gets sick. The cost of renting a hotel room for days, weeks, or months can bankrupt a family particularly when jobs are put on hold,” MacLeod explained.

“We exists to alleviate that burden and save families financial hardship and the stress that comes from it.”

The Winter Makers Market and Christmas Village is an easy way to help support Almost Home, while also having fun with the whole family, and striking items off of your holiday shopping list. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and entrance to the market is by donation. There is no cost for visits with Santa, and those wanting to do so can register at the event.

To find out more about Almost Home, click here.