With Thanksgiving behind us, the season of giving is upon us, but that first means getting.

And with around three weeks left before Santa makes his deliveries, some of us find ourselves getting desperate to discover the perfect gifts.

There is no need to travel far or wide to find unique, creative holiday gifts since Helena Middle School plans to host its first Holiday Market Dec. 5 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Organizer Patti Dodson said booth fees would contribute to the HMS Technology Fund.

“Each vendor pays a booth fee, which will help HMS purchase items to maintain our current technology like printer cartridges, projector bulbs, speakers, and replacement mice or keyboards,” Dodson said.

Dodson said HMS did not receive technology funds from the state of Alabama this year, so this money is essential.

With no admittance fee for shoppers, the HMS Holiday Market will also offer door prizes from their vendors. While the vendor list is still growing, Dodson expects 30-40 local vendors and artists.

Vendors already participating include: Too Sassy Personalized Gifts, Southern Living and Thirty-one Gifts; skin care products from Artistry, Arbonne, Mary Kay, Avon and BeautiControl; scrapbooking products from Creative Memories; jewelry by Simply Ear-Resistible, Z-Rocks and Vera Juett; children’s books by Usbourne Books; photography by Crystal Watford; stained glass by Cooper’s Creations; kitchen and food products by Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple and Tupperware; Kiwanis Club peanuts; Orthodontics South and shoes by Wright Shoe.

Dodson also expects handbag, children’s clothing and artist vendors at the event.

“We plan for this to be the first annual HMS Holiday Market,” she said.

The HMS Holiday Market will take place in the cafeteria of Helena Middle School at the rear of the building. Shoppers may park at the school and student volunteers will be on hand to direct shoppers.

Jessica Vance can be reached by e–mail at jvance86@hotmail.com.