March Madness Marketplace

March Madness generally refers to the time of the annual NCAA college basketball tournament. In Saline County, March Madness is a huge one-day spring shopping event that the Habitat for Humanity is hosting for the first time in partnership with Women in Networking (WIN) on March 8, 2014.  The event will showcase spring trends from Arkansas and Louisiana and will include boutiques, home decor, refurbished furniture, jewelry, accessories, restaurants, cosmetic lines, children’s items, food trucks, antiques, crafts and much more.

“We want to change the connotation of the term March Madness in Saline County. We want women to instantly associate March Madness with shopping, socializing, and giving back,” says Lauren Warren, Executive Assistant for Habitat for Humanity of Saline County. “We want to create an event that women look forward to year round.”

March Madness will also feature the top five items from the Habitat for Humanity Saline County ReStore’s competition, ReStore ReStyle Design Challenge. Participants consist of professional artisans who will restyle and refurbish home décor items from the ReStore. The restyled items will be showcased and sold at the March Madness event.

Habitat for Humanity is using March Madness as a major fundraiser to help bridge the fundraising gap that occurs throughout the year. “Most of the funds Habitat for Humanity raises are raised in the fall. However, Habitat’s build season usually kicks off in the spring,” said Warren.

Habitat for Humanity in Saline County builds an average of five houses each year and each house costs between $60-68,000, depending on the size of the house. Habitat for Humanity is able to sell simple, decent, affordable housing to families at cost through donated labor and monetary funds. Habitat is a Christian based organization that works in partnership with God and people everywhere, from all walks of life.

“Through the work of Habitat for Humanity of Saline County, low income families have found new hope in the form of affordable housing,” according to habitatsalinecountyar.org.  To date, Habitat has built fifty-seven homes for partner families. In 2014, Habitat will break ground on the sixtieth home in Saline County.

Several Habitat staff members are members of WIN. “The partnership between Habitat for Humanity and WIN is an equally beneficial partnership. A majority of the members in WIN are independent sales vendors and this event is an avenue to build their brand within the community,” Warren said. Also as a result of the partnership, WIN members will help promote the event and help Habitat secure vendors in its inaugural year.

The WIN Career Closet will also benefit through the March Madness shopping event. “Habitat for Humanity is offering $2.00 off the $5.00 entry fee for anyone who brings a gently used handbag for the Career Closet. The Career Closet is also always looking for professional attire to be donated as well. Although it is not feasible to collect clothes at the March Madness event, the Career Closet will be able to promote their cause to attendees and hopefully drive up donations for gently used clothes,” said Warren.

March 8th, 2014 is also international Women’s Day, a day that has been observed since the early 1990s. “Today, International Women’s Day is a holiday observed in numerous countries throughout the world.  Thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements,” Warren said. March Madness is Saline County’s event that will do just that.

Habitat also hosts several other events throughout the year. Along with March Madness, Collegiate Challenge students from Georgetown University will be spending their spring break giving back to the citizens of Saline County by assisting in the construction of Habitat homes in March. In May, there will be a Women Build around Mother’s day. “Women Build empowers women by giving them the skill set to feel comfortable and confident on the construction site,” Warren said.

March Madness is planned to be an annual event and hopes to become a staple in the Saline County community. Put down the basketball brackets and come out to support your local Habitat for Humanity.

“They might not be next door, but they are still your neighbors!”