A time for giving

Olivia Summons, left, Meredith Sherman of Sophia Lustig Shop, right. Seated is Olivia's sister Cynthia Kallile of Chicago who was autographing her new cookbook.

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Toledo Bar Auxiliary Trunk show Event chairmen, L-R, Jane George and Pam Herschel.

Holiday shopping is in full swing and many folks found unique gifts from local vendors at special events.

The Historical Society of Bedford Colonial Christmas craft show at St. Luke's Church in Temperance, Mich., was for the restoration of the Banner Oak School, a trip back in time to school days at the turn of the century.

The Sixth Annual Toledo Bar Association Auxiliary Holiday Trunk Show at The Toledo Club reaped several items from vendors for a silent auction at the general meeting in January to support charitable projects.

The Holiday Loop from Downtown Toledo to Uptown and the Old West End offered folks a chance to purchase art by local vendors, including Leonard Marty and Julie VanHeyst at their Eleven Eleven Studio on Adams Street and art by those with developmental disabilities at Shared Lives Studios, a division of Lott Industries.

Gifts and Giving at Carranor Hunt and Polo Club in Perrysburg offered everything from unique jewelry, clothing, and hostess gifts to children's toys, holiday decor, and art by local vendors. Nearly $1,000 was raised to provide about 700 holiday food boxes for Cherry Street Mission.

The Celebrating Edith Franklin Youth Arts Fund Event presented by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo at The Secor Gallery was a chance to purchase a piece of the late artist's work. The event raised $11,900 for the cause and donations are still coming in.

Olivia Summons, left, Meredith Sherman of Sophia Lustig Shop, right. Seated is Olivia's sister Cynthia Kallile of Chicago who was autographing her new cookbook.

The Annual Holiday Stroll in downtown Toledo at Monroe and 10th streets enticed shoppers to Sophia Lustig, Sophie's Sister, and Paula Brown Shop. Cynthia Kallile, who grew up in Toledo with her sister Olivia Summons, was at Sophie's selling autographed copies of her new cookbook. She is the chief owner of The Meatloaf Bakery in Chicago. Liz Fowler, owner of The Savory Suite, a private dining and event place uptown in Perrysburg was at Paula Brown's whipping up delights from items offered at the shop.

Locally owned Zinful wine and cigar bar in Waterville on Dutch Road hosted a Wild Game Dinner and Auction with a Wine and Beer Tasting and Cigar Pairing. The more than $3,000 raised benefited the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. On the menu were kangarooo, elk, ostrich, rabbit, antelope, and wild boar with spirits and chocolate-dipped boar bacon for dessert. Special guest was Hanford Dixon, cornerback in 1981-89 for the Cleveland Browns who named the Dog Pound at Cleveland Stadium. Kudos to the committee, including Mike Crompton, owner of 11 local Wendy's restaurants; Zinful owner Joyce Franzblau, and John Henry, Dave Graven, Scot Morehouse, and Gregg Durbin.

The 42nd Annual Brandywine Country Club Christmas Auction was Dec. 5. Auctioneer Jerry Anderson of WTOL-TV, Channel 11, returned to sell the handmade items, home baked goods, and numerous raffle items. The nearly $21,000 in proceeds will provide 51 families of Northwest Ohio Hemophilia Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with gifts, food, and gas cards, according to event chairman Deb Opaczewski and her committee of nearly 20.

The Toledo Artists' Club Holiday Show is now through Dec. 22 and is a great place to shop. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Call 419-531-4079 or go to toledoartistclub.com.

Still shopping for the holidays? Be sure to stop by the area's locally owned stores for that special gift: There are less crowds and many offer gift wrapping!