The Valley Women’s Club with the Redwood Mountain Faire Steering Committee are delighted to announce that $30,200 is being shared among the nonprofits whose volunteer help made the Faire run smoothly and remain affordable. Valley Churches United, Mountain Community Resources, the SLV Community Band, and the eleven other organizations that provided Faire staffing earned the equivalent of almost $17 per volunteer-hour for their help.

Local bands were featured in the great line-up of 21 bands that enticed thousands of people to come, as did the delightful arts & crafts. Combined with the excellent weather. These special enticements, along with food, beverages and fun for all ages, and the beautiful Roaring Camp setting, came together to make the 2012 Redwood Mountain Faire a remarkably successful community celebration.

Hundreds of volunteers, working 1791 volunteer hours over the two-day event, enabled us to keep the entry price low and still make money to benefit local nonprofit organizations. The volunteers did dozens of jobs. They helped drive shuttle vans, track sales, direct traffic, handle trash, staff booths, provide security, and many other jobs, from set-up Friday, through the event, to clean up (in the rain) Monday. It was an extraordinary effort and does not count the year-long planning process by the all-volunteer Steering Committee nor the two days of set-up and clean-up. This enabled the Faire give back more to the community.

On Sunday, August 26, representatives of all the nonprofits gathered back at Roaring Camp for a celebratory picnic and to receive their funds. Faire Directors Julie Hendriks and Violet Smith had the pleasure of distributing checks along with grateful acknowledgements of the importance of each organization’s role. Sharing stories of both the fun and of difficulties they experienced, everyone realized the complexities of putting on this remarkable community event and the huge benefits the event provides.

Planning is already in the works for next year’s Faire. Your ideas and suggestions are WELCOME!! Plan to help too! To share your ideas, email Faire Co-Director, Violet Smith. To offer to help, contact Violet, or go to the Faire website or call 216-6535, and leave a message.