Dartmouth crafters gathered together to support local veterans on Sunday, Dec. 11 as the Dartmouth VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary held its annual holiday craft fair.

Organizers said that vendors gave a small donation to reserve a table and each provided an item for a craft fair raffle, with all proceeds going to programs that benefit local veterans like the Council on Aging food pantry and the New Bedford transitional house.

“That’s what we’re here for — to support our veterans and the community,” said Trudi Marshall, senior vice president of the auxiliary. “We try to go in-town first and work our way out from there.”

Marshall added that the auxiliary recently gave 70 toys to Toys for Tots and 37 gift bags to the transitional house — which helps veterans and others get their lives back on track after substance abuse recovery.

Around the VFW Hall, crafty vendors offered up a variety of holiday decor, handmade gifts, and other products.

At one booth, Joanne Normore showed off her handmade stained glass ornaments of all shapes and sizes.

“It’s a hobby, but it’s not,” she said, explaining that after 30 years crafting with glass, it has become part-hobby-part-business. “I love it.”

Elsewhere, Tracy and Benny Gonzalez sold their all-natural single-ingredient dog treats, featuring yummy varieties like chicken hearts and Atlantis smelt fish.

“So you don’t have any fillers or anything,” said Tracy, adding that they had started producing the treats after struggling to find any for their own dogs that weren’t full of additives.

“When you go to the stores, you see all these boxes and you can’t even pronounce half of the ingredients,” she said.

Marshall said the craft fair is just one of about 10 fundraisers that the auxiliary holds each year to help local veterans.