A youth vendor fair held on Dec. 15 in Fairhaven showcased the talents of a group of students from the Southeastern Educational Collaborative who made and sold holiday ornaments.

Southeastern Educational Collaborative, with its office located in Dartmouth, is a public education collaborative whose membership includes the Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School, Rochester and Old Rochester Regional public school districts.

Catherine Cooper, the collaborative’s executive director, said students in the Transitional Services Program prepared for the vendor fair by creating various crafts throughout the week and working in teams to create a final product. 

“They made cloud slime, Christmas tree and snowflake ornaments,” she said.

Program staff members and volunteers donated  wooden trees and ceramic ornaments. Students then decorated their own wooden Christmas tree decked with lights and holiday elements.

Students also created stovetop potpourri kits made of dried cranberries, oranges, cinnamon and other spices that were popular with fair shoppers.

After crafting their wares, the items were sold at the Youth Vendor Fair in Fairhaven on Sunday, Dec. 15. 

A Transitional Services Program student assisted volunteers with selling the items at the fair throughout the day.

"I'm incredibly proud of all of our students and staff who came together to make this a successful community event, while also participating in activities that reinforce the value of teamwork," program leader Jen Levasseur said. "I'm thrilled that we were able to highlight the incredible work that our students regularly produce while also spreading the word in the community about our program and enriching activities."