Community House hosts Holiday Gift Bazaar

Princetonians and community members alike swarmed Prospect Avenue's Fields Center this weekend. White gift bags marked those coming from Community House's First Annual Holiday Gift Bazaar, an event to benefit the organization's summer computer camp.

The Fields Center, where the event was hosted, was transformed into a holiday wonderland. Purple and gold draperies drew the eyes of shoppers to the diverse assortment of gifts, decorations and novelties.

With a budget of $35,000, the Computer Camp is one of many projects designed to benefit middle schoolers organized by Community House — a campus organization focused on improving the quality of life for underprivileged Princeton-area youth. The four-week camp introduces participants to a wide variety of experiences they might not get in the classroom.

Princeton students to community members — many of them young people who have attended the program in the past — helped run the event.

Torie Julious, a seventh grader at John Witherspoon Middle School, was one of the youngest volunteers. Her mother Joie Julious also worked at the event.

Torie Julious attended the Computer Camp for the past two summers and plans on returning.

"It's a lot of fun," she said.

The students work with simple robotics, making toy cars and programming them to move and stop at miniature stoplights. They also write poetry and design their own Macromedia Flash slideshows. The projects are all posted on the program's website, and there is a prize at the end of the program for the best presentation.

The participants also take field trips to locations like NBC Studios in New York City and Six Flags Great Adventure theme park.

Joie Julious said she has been pleasantly surprised by the quality and content of the program.

"Torie comes home every day from camp just raving about their projects, her friends, her counselors — everything," Joie Julious said.

"Community House just does a fabulous job helping these kids learn and have fun over the summer," she added.

Mission

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Community House was established in 1969 by a group of Princeton students to help residents in the John Witherspoon neighborhood of the Borough — an area just a couple blocks north of the chic shops of Palmer Square, but home to many underprivileged children.

Marjorie Young is the leader of the program and coordinator of the weekend's bazaar.

"We want to make this a tradition — something for people to look forward to," Young said.

The event's planners focused on representing the more refined tastes of much of the Princeton community and on putting a unique spin on traditional holiday fairs.

"This is not your mama's craft fair," Young said.

In addition to traditional items — greeting cards, wrapping paper and stationery — more unique fare, including vibrant Austrian eggs and South African candles, all hand-painted and authentic, was displayed.

"We have something for everyone — things from $1.50 to nice leather wallets and handbags," Young added.

The event was co-run by Do Me a Favor, a local gift and events planner.

Dale Stokes, founder of the company and a friend of Young, offered up her company's services, continuing their tradition of community involvement.

"Each year, we choose a deserving local charity and help them host a benefit event," Stokes said.

Keynote speaker

Elizabeth Duffy '88, headmaster of the Lawrenceville School and a member of the University Board of Trustees, delivered the keynote address, highlighting Community House and this weekend's effort.

A molecular biology major, Duffy found time in her busy undergraduate schedule to participate with Community House.

"I spent most of my waking hours working with students on campus and people from the surrounding area on a variety of community-based projects," Duffy said.