To cope with the continued financial loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Garland County Historical Society will host its inaugural Outdoor Holiday House fundraiser this week.
The Holiday House will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Friday outside of the GCHS building, 328 Quapaw Ave. It will offer products branded with the society's logo and an original design by local artist Tansill Stough Anthony that shows a skyline view of Hot Springs. Items will also be available http://www.garlandcountyhistoricalsociety.com.
"The sale will be outside on the sidewalk in front of our building and our parking lot," GCHS Executive Director Liz Robbins said. "Social distancing will be maintained, masks will be worn; we'll do everything we can think of to make sure everyone's safe."
Items for sale will include masks, linen note cards, long-sleeved T-shirts, natural cotton tea towels, baseball caps and books published by the society.
"We depend on sales of our publication and other items, donations and dues, and those have decreased as our foot traffic, of course, just about disappeared during the pandemic," Robbins said. "Also, like other nonprofits, we've just seen a decline in contributions since the pandemic started as people deal with it in various ways."
Robbins said their annual fundraiser, "September Hidden House Tour," was also canceled due to the pandemic.
Funding allows the society to continue its preservation and education work for the community, she said.
"Since 1960, the society has collected and preserved a massive collection of photos, paper materials, maps, books and other historical materials, and we work hard to make these resources easily accessible to local residents and researchers across the country," Robbins said.
"We also make local history available to the public through our website, monthly meetings, programs to civic groups and schools, a yearly journal and other publications, our Facebook page and other activities," she said.
"We are a unique research and educational resource for the community, and an invaluable one not just for people today but for future generations, as well."
While she couldn't predict how much GCHS might raise with the Holiday House, Robbins said the society will be "very grateful" if the public comes by and picks up some "unique, wonderful" Christmas gifts to help continue their mission.