The parking lot of East Islip High School was packed with cars on Nov. 18 and 19 as eager shoppers attended the annual East Islip High School PTSA Craft and Gift Fair.

Vendors filled up the cafeteria and the hallways. They sold clothing, hats, jewelry, toys, baked goods, candles, ornaments, wreaths, handbags, hair accessories, decor, and much more. Making the fair a perfect opportunity for attendees to get a head start on their holiday shopping. Many vendors offered virtual payment methods such as Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle, making the shopping experience even more convenient.

East Islip Craft and Gift Fair is hosted by the East Islip High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association), who were selling raffle tickets for holiday-themed gift baskets, an East Islip apparel gift basket, a nutribullet, and more. They were also selling food, beverages, and snacks.

Throughout the year, the PTSA raises money for the students. The money earned goes towards scholarships and individual classes. These funds put money towards events such as prom.

“This is our big fundraiser of the year,” said volunteer Maria Triola, who was in charge of the raffle tickets.

Cheryl Pepe, president of the East Islip High School PTSA, added, “We do so much throughout the year to help the kids. If the art or music department needs something or somebody needs help, we do as much as we can.”

Next to the PTSA table was a smaller table being run by National Honor Society students. They were selling raffle tickets for Apple AirPods.

The money raised goes towards a ceremony that takes place in the spring. They recently hosted a food drive, where they received over 2,000 pounds of food. The three East Islip High School students in charge of the raffle tickets agreed that community service is an integral part of what the National Honor Society does.