Holy Spirit Catholic hosts 2nd annual Harvest Mart

photo Cathy Kalinowski displays some of the Christmas decorations that will be on sale at the Oct. 19 Harvest Mart at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church is giving the community a head start on buying Christmas décor as well as a chance to help neighbors who are down on their luck.

The Soddy-Daisy church's St. Vincent de Paul outreach ministry is hosting its second annual Harvest Mart Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The one-day holiday market will include new and used Christmas decorations like lights, artificial trees, lawn ornaments and general home Christmas décor, as well as a homemade baked good sale and a book sale, according to outreach ministry coordinator Cathy Kalinowski. Books are selling $1 for hardbacks and 50 cents for paperbacks.

"Any money we get on Oct. 19 goes directly to charity," said Kalinowski. "And we have the things priced to sell."

By charity, she means the money will be given back to those in need in the form of food boxes and payments for utility bills including gas, electric, water and phone. Last year, the first Harvest Mart event raised $1,100, Kalinowski said.

"There's nothing out in this area except the Soddy-Daisy Food Bank, and they are fabulous," she said, explaining that the ministry helps many single moms and others who have lost their job. "Usually they are calling us the day before the electric is to be shut off, so they are desperate. As for food, we get people from all over the place."

The St. Vincent de Paul outreach ministry has been in existence for the past 10 years, and Kalinowski said she's been coordinator for the past three.

"What touches me the most is when you have somebody asking for food ... but they say, 'Don't give me anything that someone else could use,'" she said. "We get hugs, there are tears and thank-you notes from moms and their children."

Holy Spirit Catholic Church is located at 10768 Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy. For more information visit holyspirittn.com.

Email Kelsie Bowman at kbowman@timesfreepress.com

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