Bonita Woman’s Club readyfor annual craft show

For 57 years, the Sweetwater Woman’s Club in Bonita has quietly shaped the holidays—and the futures of local students—through its annual Holiday Craft Show. What started as a modest fundraiser featuring handmade ornaments and décor crafted by Club members has grown into a three-day event that brings together nearly two dozen local artisans and small businesses, all raising money for scholarships to help Sweetwater Union High School seniors afford college.

“In its early years, the Bonita Holidays fundraiser had holiday items for sale that were designed and made by the members of the Sweetwater Women’s Club,” said Margaret Peña, a club board member. “Members of the club would gather together and sew, knit, paint, and create holiday décor to be sold. The club would then select homes in the community and decorate them for the holidays on the inside using the handmade ornaments. Tickets were then sold to the community to tour the homes and purchase the ornaments. My parents used to serve as guides on the tour. The proceeds went for scholarships and other philanthropic donations.”

This model evolved over the years and has been going strong ever since.

“Eventually, this evolved into individual crafters bringing their items to be sold at the annual fundraiser. Today, almost two dozen crafters who primarily design and make their own items rent a space from the club and come for three days to sell their products. A certain percentage of their overall sales goes to the club for scholarships and other philanthropic donations.”

When asked why the club chose a craft show instead of a gala or dinner, Peña said, “Providing the public with unique gifts and decorations for the holidays has long been a successful hallmark of the club’s fundraising activities that benefit the local community. It is the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year, and the community has come to expect it and look forward to it. Each year, new crafters join the fair along with additional fundraising activities such as silent auctions and raffles for dozens of gifts and donations made by local community businesses.”

The scholarships themselves have a tangible impact. Peña shared examples of past recipients:
Jessica Macias, Castle Park, 2011: “The scholarship made a difference in my life because I am a first-generation Latina who came from a low-income household. This scholarship made a difference because it made me feel worthy, and it helped me pay for my textbooks the first year at SDSU.”

Ashley Danielle Lumanlan, Sweetwater High, 2025: “The Sweetwater Woman’s Club Scholarship has truly been a tremendous help to me. I was able to use the scholarship to help pay for my tuition at SDSU, purchase my books and lab manuals for classes, and cover the cost of my lab safety gear (lab coats and goggles). I truly am grateful because this support helped open a new chapter in my life and brought me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a nurse.”

The craft show also benefits local artisans. “This event is historically well attended, and the vendors and artisans benefit from selling their products. The attendees get to select and purchase unique, handmade items made by local artisans and small businesses, the vendors benefit from the income received from selling their products, and the Club fundraises for scholarships to benefit local students.

Vendors know that the money raised goes to paying for scholarships for seniors in the Sweetwater Union High School District. A cause that everyone believes in. The fundraiser is truly a community event where everyone comes together and plays an important role in raising money for scholarships. Additionally, it is an opportunity for the vendors to network and showcase their products to the community — some even develop customers who will follow them to other craft shows,” Peña said.

Behind the scenes, the club members do it all and are happy to do so.

“Our club members plan and prepare well in advance of the 3-day craft fair. The club is responsible for coordinating everything that contributes to the success of the fundraiser, from recruiting the vendors and soliciting local businesses for gifts and items for raffle prizes and gift baskets, also featured at the craft fair. Every year, the craft fair includes a plant sale, and the club is responsible for potting and pruning to ensure the plants are ready to be sold.

“Club members also prepare baked goods to sell at the fair and are responsible for designing and sewing a handmade quilt that is typically raffled off at the fair. We also have a tradition of featuring different variations of cheese products that our club members package together for sale. Our annual fundraising event is truly a community effort. A village of passionate community members coming together to fundraise scholarships to help students have a brighter educational future,” Peña said.

Looking ahead, things look bright: “We’re excited because our club membership is increasing, which means the possibilities for what we’re able to achieve on behalf of the community will grow. We’re cultivating a place for women who have a strong desire to give back and invest in their local community. There is no better investment than in our kids’ education.

“The cost of pursuing education, whether it’s a trade school or university, is only getting more costly. As time goes on, there will be greater demands for scholarships. While the club relies heavily on craft fairs for fundraising, we hope to attract donors in the future so we can make greater investments in scholarships and expand the program.”

The 57th Annual Holiday Craft Show runs Oct. 16–18. It’s a mix of one-of-a-kind gifts, festive décor, and community spirit — a reminder that volunteers, students, artisans, and shoppers together make a real impact. For nearly six decades, the Sweetwater Woman’s Club has done all of that — and more — one handmade ornament at a time.