The 29th annual Antiques and Collectibles Show – “Treasures of the Past” – presented by Mental Health America of Porter County at the Porter County Expo Center,was a total blast! With this latest cold snap, it was a breath of fresh air, then straight into the beautiful heated exposition hall.
For just $4 admission, which includes one appraisal, it was a time the whole family will enjoy! Kids under 12 years of age even got in FREE! And there’s plenty to do and see. Go ahead, munch on some delicious hand-dipped chocolate pretzels, learn how to identify and reuse valued heirlooms and other antiques, and be engulfed in the physical history of the treasures surrounding you.
If you’re wondering what going out to “Treasures of the Past” will get you, picture this: you’ll walk in and catch a waft of delicious concessions, hear the chatter of your neighbors explaining where they have in their precious antique, spy some children eyeing some chocolate pretzels, watch and learn from the demonstrations, and realize that the entire Expo Center has been transformed into the most wonderful treasure chest!
With 72 vendors from across the Midwest, – more than ever before, selling everything from sterling silver rings to barn wood tables, there’s something for everyone. Many of the vendors have been coming for many years and have a great appreciation for what this benefit does for our community – whether they’re from here or not.
“Because it’s a benefit, we get people coming through who aren’t necessarily collectors or antique buffs, but they’re coming out because it’s an event that’s sponsored in their community. And it’s at a great time of the year because everyone wants to get out and enjoy themselves and that’s what this is all about!” said Sylvia Giannini, a vendor who has been coming to MHAPC’s “Treasures of the Past” for the last five years.
MHAPC has been serving our community for over 50 years. Their legacy continues today in a myriad of ways like outreach programs in our schools, a pantry for those they help, fundraisers like their annual Gift Lift, and their support in strengthening of a sense of community for those who are impacted by mental health issues.
In order to continue these efforts, MHAPC needs your continued support. Nonprofits like MHAPC depend on donors like you for their continued success. Please find it in your heart to give to this wonderful cause. Mary Hodson, MHAPC’s Executive Director, is incredibly passionate about her cause and friendly to speak with, which makes her so excellent at her job. She spoke to me concerning what makes her feel as though she’s done a good job on any given day and why MHAPC is so vital to our community and those who require assistance with their own and their loved one’s mental health.
“It’s that human touch. It’s the fact that there’s a voice on the other end of the line, who is really going to listen, and that’s amazing. When I get thinking, ‘Are we doing it right? Are we meeting the need?’ It’s that, ‘Thank you, thank you for being there. Thank you for listening.’ It’s always that: ‘Thank you for listening.’ So you know for that person it’s more about – not the actual need and that we fill it – it’s listening and being there,” said Hodson.
“Treasures of the Past” is MHAPC’s biggest fundraiser each year, and one of the most intriguing aspects is always Appraiser Martin Papke’s booth. Hailed by Hodson as “our own ANTIQUES ROADSHOW,” Papke delivers a dose of humor and kindness with each appraisal and seems to genuinely enjoy his time there.
“It’s always fun to come back and it’s nice to be wanted and enjoyed and I find a lot of treasures and it’s fun to do. It’s a nice way to promote mental health. Everyone has cabin fever this time of year; it’s great to come out, and – as you can see – it’s a wonderful turnout. You meet a lot of interesting people. You hear the stories of how they acquired the item or how it’s been passed down in their family,” said Papke, of Kathy’s Antiques in Chesterton.
An event like this is too good to miss! Make a trip to the Porter County Expo Center Saturday, March 1 until 4 pm or Sunday, March 2, from 10 am until 4 pm. Admission, again, is $4, and FREE for children 12 and under!
For more on this wonderful cause, keep an eye out on our Life sites, check out Mental Health America’s site http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/, or give our local chapter a call at (219) 462-6267. Please share this information – there is so much we can do as a community when we come together to help ourselves and others! We have a channel, so let’s use it!
The venue at PCEC truly shines in this sort of setting. It is perfect for a large-scale occasion like this, providing vendors and visitors alike enough space to breathe and more than enough room to spread out and enjoy each other’s company. What an incredible asset to our community and what a lovely place to host your own event! For more on PCEC’s rentals, visit their website http://www.indianadunes.com/expo-center/venue-rental. With summertime coming – is this just a rumor? – wouldn’t the PCEC be a great place to hold your next family reunion, wedding, or get-together?