The Exchange Club of Falcon hosted its two-day craft fair at the Falcon High School gymnasium in Falcon, Colorado, Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Visitors were able to browse 77 booths, with vendors selling handmade craft items, baked goods, soaps, spices, clothing, blankets, sports gear and more.Chartered Nov. 20, 2006, the Exchange Club of Falcon is part of a national nonprofit organization focused on child abuse prevention, said Joe Bauer, a founding member and current president. The Exchange Club, founded in 1911 in Detroit, Michigan, has more than 650 chapters nationwide, with 20,000 members. The Falcon Exchange Club is 22 members strong.Bauer said the Falcon group sponsors about 38 projects a year.For eight years, the craft fair has showcased local artisans, with all proceeds from the booth sales going to El Paso County nonprofit groups that assist at-risk youth and families in need, said Bob Miller, immediate past president.The club also collected donations of canned foods and used, gently worn winter coats at the fair.Falcon residents Kristy Hignite, her daughter Christina Hignite and her mother, Donna Guerra, visited the craft fair Saturday afternoon. ìWe like to come and look at all the stuff they have,î Kristy Hignite said.ìNow that I have a daughter of my own, itís fun to look at all the little girl stuff,î said Christina, who brought her 2-month-old daughter, Evelynn.This yearís event coordinator, Steve Cohen, was happy with the turnout, and said that some vendors made several thousand dollars selling their goods throughout the weekend. ìIt turned out really great,î he said.ìWe are all volunteers and whatever we earn, 100 percent goes to programs in El Paso County,î said Andy Conder, president-elect. ìWe want to make the community a better place to live,î Miller said.This month, the Exchange Club will participate in the Colorado Springs Veterans Day parade on Saturday, Nov. 5, with a tribute this year to women in the military.The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and proceed south on Tejon Street, starting at St. Vrain street and ending at Vermijo Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs.
