Little Shoppe, Big Impact Holiday Market

Earlier this month, Create Dinners joined Blank Studio for their annual fundraiser and holiday party. To say that it was a privilege and success is an understatement.

This was an all weekend event!

We opened the doors on Friday for a holiday party and market opening. As guests arrived, they were greeted by a foraged display of logs, mushrooms, greenery, and bittersweet designed by Ashley Ziemer. All this beauty surrounded an inspiration wall that everyone could add to, answering the questions, “What are you most proud of from 2022?” and “What are you most looking forward to in 2023?” Through the doors, there were candles, good music and drinks, the raffle station, and an abundance of scrumptious food. On their way out, they were able to grab a gift bag!

Photos below are from the talented Vonecia Carswell and Kate Pauley.

The market doors reopened on Saturday morning and went into the evening.

Guests popped in and out all day, escaping the winter rain and cold. Raffle jars and spirits filled up all day and there was not a single moment you couldn’t look around the room to see smiling faces. We even hosted two hands-on activations — Candle Making with Moods by Yemmie and Natural Silk Ribbon Dyeing with Liz Chick.

On Sunday, raffle winners were drawn and emails were sent out to the lucky ones! We kind of felt like Santa, sliding into inboxes (metaphorical chimneys) with good news and gifts.

The Little Shoppe, Big Impact Holiday Market is easily the biggest event Create Dinners has ever been a part of. With over 300 guests and $2,786 raised for City Harvest NYC, combating food waste and serving New York’s growing hungry population, we were overwhelmed with gratitude.

We are so grateful to everyone who donated their money, time, and energy. Thank you to everyone who shopped and to everyone who asked how they could help. We couldn’t have done any of this without Blank Studio and Talya Benjamin who spearheaded things on our Create Dinners team. Thank you again to all of our incredible collaborators who set up booths, donated products/food/beverages and raffle items!

Raffle Donors:

Vendors:

Sponsors:

We're already so excited for next year's market and couldn't have asked for a better way to end 2022. Cheers, everyone!