East Coast Mums' Support Group Christmas Market
The East Coast Mums' Support group held their very first Christmas Market this year. Read on to find out what different stalls and entertainers came along...
Early Sunday morning the function room at King’s Mansion condo was home to a delightful array of stalls for the East Coast Mums’ Support Group Christmas Market. From homemade goods like jewellery and chocolate to pre-loved toys and books, there was something for everyone.
They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and this couldn’t have been more apt for the Christmas Market, with great bargains to be had all around. As Mums probably arrived with the hope of getting rid of old toys, kids ran off finding “new treasures” from the other sellers’ stalls around the market.
Pooja, one visitor exclaimed, “I can’t believe how cheap some of the items were going for. I bought a number of stuffed toys to donate to the NUH children cancer ward.” And another little customer fell in love with a cuddly rabbit that was a steal at only $1!
Another visitor, Sonali Rao heard about this through some friends on Facebook. She said, “I am so glad I came. I managed to snag some great buys. I especially liked the custom chocolates – which were very innovative.”
Laughter and gasps could be heard from the kids around the market with fantastic performances from Mr Bottle, dazzling them with his close up magic tricks. He proved to be a hit with kids and parents alike as Suzanne, one mum told us, “Mr Bottle was fantastic – my kids can’t get over the magic show and they want me to get him for their birthday celebration next month.”
Mr Bottle not only provided the kids with his mystifying tricks but also brought a long with him a bagful of weird and wonderful balloon sculptures including a monkey and even a balloon Santa and reindeer.
Money collected from the balloon sales was donated to Star Pals who also came along to the market. Star Pals are dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions. The hospice provides specialised care and support, helping patients to spend their last days in comfort with their families.
Another stall that came along to the market was Joytingle, the creators of the educational tool Rabbit Ray. Joytingle aim to help children to overcome any fears they may have about needles and nurses. Designed to help children understand medical procedures through play, Rabbit Ray uses a fun, innovative e-book and play toy that is sure to get rid of those pre-hospital jitters.
Joytingle are currently fundraising to help make Rabbit Ray a reality and send him on his quest through different hospitals, educating children on his way. To find out more about Rabbit Ray and ways to support, click here.
Join the East Coast Mums’ Support Group on Facebook here.
We’d like to say a great big thank you to all those from the East Coast Mums Support Group who came along to the Christmas Market, Mr Bottle, Star Pals and Joytingle! We hope you had as much fun as we did!