High Hopes Goes Virtual for 10th Annual Holiday Market

High Hopes invites the public to support their annual Holiday Market from the comfort of their home this year. Due to the pandemic, High Hopes Holiday Market is going virtual with over 70 featured vendors. The new virtual event will take place November 15th through November 28th. As in years past, the organization will also host a non-perishable food drive for Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries on-site now through November 28th.

“The health and safety of our guests, vendors, volunteers, and staff are our number one priority,” explains Event Manager, Trudy Burgess. “The High Hopes family remains committed to the Market’s mission to create a vibrant, experiential marketplace which promotes artisans and small businesses while raising awareness for High Hopes’ therapeutic and equine assisted activities. It’s the perfect way to support our organization while finding the perfect gift for everyone on your holiday list.”

The High Hopes Virtual Holiday Market will allow patrons to shop a diversified list of artisans and local businesses offering unique array of goods from sweet treats to all-natural soaps and skincare products, home and holiday décor, one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry from raw materials, to specialty holiday foods and the perfect holiday tablescape.

The online shopping experience is available at https://highhopestr.org/market/ and will have items sorted by vendor category with items available for shipment or local pick-up.

The non-perishable food drop-off will be accepted Monday-Saturdays 9am-5pm now through November 29th. Items may be dropped off at High Hopes, 36 Town Woods Road Old Lyme, CT in the marked bin by the flagpole. The Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Pantries food truck will be on-site on Sunday, November 15th from 11am-2pm to collect any additional donations in conclusion of the drive.

“High Hopes has been thrilled to partner with the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries again. Especially in these challenging times where we know the need is great,” comments Kitty Stalsburg, Executive Director. “We encourage all supporters of the Virtual Holiday Market to make the trip to our site with a non-perishable food donation. The High Hopes Holiday Market has been the largest single-day collection point for the SSKP collecting over 3,000 lbs. annually. Kitty concludes, “As much as we long to be together in the traditional sense, we promise an exciting and virtual experience that will nurture a sense of community and connection.”

“Thanks to our Market Partner, Benchmark Wealth Management, and our other corporate partners, High Hopes was able to make this necessary pivot to a virtual market,” remarks Development Director, Sara Qua. “This allowed us to continue promoting small businesses and artisans, highlight our therapeutic riding and equine assisted programs and participants and continue to host a non-perishable food drive for Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.”

High Hopes is a premier therapeutic riding center and international instructor-training site, accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) since 1979. High Hopes has served people with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities for more than forty years, offering year-round programs in equine assisted activities, including therapeutic riding, carriage driving and equine learning program. High Hopes offers experiential learning through outreach programs, an integrated summer camp program and a variety of volunteer opportunities. High Hopes serves over 1800 people with disabilities each year, underwriting over 70% of all lesson costs and providing financial aid to 100% of our participants. To learn more about High Hopes programs and participants or to volunteer, please visit www.highhopestr.org.

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries. Since 1989, providing food and fellowship to those in need in the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Lyme, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Madison, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. For 31 years Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries has provided food and fellowship to the residents of the shoreline, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, more families are in need than ever before. SSKP remains committed to finding ways to provide access to food, and has modified their pantry service to share bags of food with all who come seeking nourishment while following best practices for cleaning, mask and glove wearing, and limiting contact between persons. At present all five of SSKP pantry sites remain open and are meeting guests outside to provide bags of groceries, with high increases in attendance. Recently six of SSKP’s meal sites also re-opened, offering cooked meals-to-go. With the support of staff, volunteers, and generous food drives like High Hopes Holiday Market, SSKP continues to distribute groceries and meals each week to struggling families. The generous support of donated food from High Hopes and the community continues to make this vital mission possible. www.shorelinesoupkitchens.org