Carmelite Nuns say Holladay fair won’t happen this year
Jun 16, 2020, 12:38 PM | Updated: 12:50 pm
FILE -- Carmelite Fair 2017, KSL-TV
HOLLADAY, Utah — The Carmelite Nuns have been making their own jams and candies for 67-years in Holladay selling their goods on one day each year during the Carmelite Fair to raise money for their living expenses.
But it won’t happen this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Carmelite Fair Committee Chairman, Chris Bertram says, “It’s in God’s hands if the nuns can sustain themselves this year.”
Carmelite nuns at prayer. (Courtesy of www.carmelslc.org)
The annual fair is one of Utah’s longest-running and most popular fundraisers. It not only sells products made by the Carmelite Nuns, but there are live and silent auctions, rides, games, music and dancing. It’s a very popular event for people in the Salt Lake Valley.
“Typically, the cloistered monastery raises 80% of its income on this one day — the third Sunday in September,” says Bertram. Now fair organizers are going a different route.
They’ve set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money for nuns.
The Nuns have no contact with the outside world and they live very frugal lives. “Their only mission is to pray to God for love and peace in their community,” says Bertram.
Picture from Steve Breinholt, KSL-TV
The GoFundMe account goal is set at $120,000.
Donations can also be sent to the Carmelite Monastery, 5714 Holladay Blvd., SLC, UT 84121.
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