Vendor sales boost Prom Plus fundraiser
Lance and Terri Tucker have made pit stops at swap meets and flea markets a tradition for more than 20 years. It’s no surprise their daughters, 18-year-old Kiriahna and 16-year-old Poni, tag along.
As the family drove along Foothill Boulevard on Saturday, teenagers holding signs that read “Boutique here today” veered the family off track from visiting Jo-Ann Fabrics in La Cañada Flintridge.
“The setting is absolutely gorgeous,” said Terri Tucker as she looked around.
A peek inside Sadler Hall and the courtyard at Saint Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church was a rewarding detour not just for the Tuckers, but for hundreds of others.
Prom Plus Club, the Crescenta Valley High School branch of its namesake organization, hosted its annual boutique at the church. The event brought in vendors — local and in the surrounding area — to sell their goods in time for the holidays.
This year’s event, which raised $3,000. included 29 vendors with baked treats, hand-knit scarves, cheeses and “wine toggles” — jewelry for the neck of a wine bottle.
The fundraising portion comes from two sources via the vendors: an entry fee and a donation of 15% of total sales after reaching $100, said Diana Tyson, the vendor coordinator.
At times, throngs of people visiting the boutique made it impossible to not bump into each other. Vendors smiled at inquiring shoppers as holiday tunes filled the hall.
The event not only spotlights small merchants, but it serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser to host an after-prom party at the YMCA Foothills’ Crescenta-Cañada location each year.
Prom Plus began when Berlyn Cosman, an excelling student at Crescenta Valley High School, was killed after attending an unsupervised post-prom party at a hotel in Anaheim in 1991. Authorities jailed Paul Crowder for the crime.
Despite the tragedy that led to Prom Plus, the boutique brought smiles to attendees. A little girl was in awe as her mother placed a thin silver necklace around her neck. Friends hugged as they sifted through a collection of thrift dresses and jackets.
Charly Shelton, a comic book enthusiast who sold superhero memorabilia at the boutique, grinned as Kiriahna approached his table. A “Captain America: Winter Soldier” poster, signed by actor Chris Evans, caught the attention of the Biola University student.
Her eyes stopped moving, her mouth gaped. An exchange of cash, and Kiriahna owned the poster.
“I wasn’t expecting a comic book vendor,” Kiriahna said with a smile.
“I’ve gone from the shopper to the seller,” Shelton said. Unlike Kiriahna, shoppers visiting Shelton’s table often asked for help with buying their sons and nephews the perfect superhero presents for Christmas.
The Tuckers, who moved from Portland, Ore., said the boutique was the first event they’ve attended in La Crescenta. Outside Sadler Hall, each checked what they had purchased. Kiriahna clutched her poster. Terri and Poni beamed about the sweet treats tucked inside a shopping bag.
Lance Tucker’s hands were empty.
“I get to go home with the bill,” he said as his family laughed.