Every year, the large and small Commons of Coppell High School are transformed from a busy cafeteria into a festive community market.
On Nov. 9, the CHS commons held the 30th annual Coppell Holiday House, an event where residents of Coppell and neighboring towns can sell their homemade goods to the community.
This year, 71 shops signed up to attend, including a variety of baked goods, holiday decorations, clothing, jewelry, crochet and woodworking.
The Holiday House charged a $5 ticket fee, and proceeds from tickets will be donated to the CHS Senior Picnic at the end of the year.
“I was a senior here at one time, and I understand that recognition and celebration is so important when graduating time comes,” event coordinator Sarah Sanders said. “I’m really happy I got to contribute to that.”
This is the first year for the CHS Parent Teacher Organization to manage the event, taking over for Project Graduation. It has helped gather volunteers to manage the event, and spread the word through their social media accounts and advertising.
“The PTO is pretty well established, so it helped with word of mouth which is what this whole thing kind of relies on,” Sanders said.
Many shops sold personal passion projects made by the owners such as Hammel Turning Company, which sells food safe vases and bowls made out of various species of trees. The first project by the owner David Hammel is a small candlestick holder made of pecan wood.
“For a lot of these trees I can take you to where I got the wood from,” Hammel said. “It is a tree that was special to me or that I found somewhere, and I love learning about the different species there are.”
(Gia Ajani)
Other shops such as M&D Designs specialize in making laser-engraved Stanley cups, but also sold an array of Christmas and Thanksgiving figures. For co-owner Kara McGee, the Holiday House provides an opportunity to sell their crafts and interact with the community.
“We both are moms and we wanted to do something but stay at home with our kids,” McGee said. “I think it’s fun to be able to talk to people, and they usually tell us fun stories as well.”
At the center of the event is a Giving Tree, organized by Coppell ISD counselors to provide gifts to underprivileged community members. Attendees could donate gift cards through a QR code, and some businesses posted cards at their stores advertising the Giving Tree.
During the event, there were performances by the Madrigals, singing various songs such as “Carol of the Bells.”
“I remember coming here 30 years ago as a kid and being mesmerized by the festivities,” Sanders said. “Holiday House for me is first and foremost a community event, and then second it is a gift market.”
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