Fall Local Living 2023

T he annual Hayden’s Hope Craft Fair, hosted by The Farmhouse at Two Trees, is set for Saturday, Sept. 9. Along with vendors, there will also be food trucks, live music, and local nonprofits on site. Handmade crafts and homemade produce are a big part of the craft fair. While there is a required fee for vendors to set up at the craft fair, organizers said every cent of the fee is donated to Hayden’s Hope, which is then used to help provide scholarships to local students. Hayden’s Hope is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was formed by Amy Harwell and her family in early 2019. The organization was created to spread hope through God’s words and promises, Harwell said. She said it provides local students with the message of salvation and hope via educational and financial opportunities. It also forms alliances with the Tennessee school systems, fostering a relationship that allows for them and other motivational speakers to reach the youth in classrooms, locker rooms, and even field houses. Harwell said the relationship encourages open conversations about the real issues that the youth are facing while also talking about Jesus and their salvation. The goal of Hayden’s Hope is to spread the meaning of “There is always hope,” found in the Bible in book of John 16:33. For the past five years, Hayden’s Hope has provided scholarships to local seniors who wish to pursue a higher education. Since May of 2019, the organization has been able to provide scholarships to local seniors from schools such as Lincoln County High School, Fayetteville High School, Marshall County High School, and Central High School. “The area communities have been very supportive of Hayden’s Hope, and we have been able to give back to those respective communities,” Harwell told the Elk Valley Times in 2022. “We have been blessed by the generosity of the community and business partners to be able to provide those scholarships.” The organization hopes to continue to provide scholarships to local students with the goal of providing at least nine to 10 scholarships each year. These scholarships are directly funded by donations from the craft fair as well as other events sponsored by Hayden’s Hope each year. Hayden’s Hope also sponsors a Turkey Trot 5K and the accompanying 1 Mile Fun Run on Thanksgiving morning. The idea behind this event is that participants burn calories before they gain them. Event organizers provide mini pies to participants as they cross the finish line. The Turkey Trot 5K and the 1 Mile Fun Run is an asphalt and trail course on the campus of Lincoln County High School. The Turkey Trot 5K course winds through the campus, while the 1 Mile Fun run circles around the football stadium. Hayden’s Hope now has color runs at local schools. In May of 2022, the first Hayden’s Hope Color Run was held at South Lincoln Middle School. At this event, each grade group met with Hayden’s Hope, the Lift LC students from Lincoln County High School, and Tucker Webb for motivation. The goal of this color run was to encourage and uplift students, while also spreading the mission of Hayden’s Hope and Lift LC. Lift LC’s motto is “Everyone is seen, heard, valued, and loved.” The craft fair will be at The Farmhouse at Two Trees, located at 439 Smith Mill Rd. in Fayetteville, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sept. 9. There is no charge to park or attend the event. Craft fair-goers will find art, woodwork, jewelry, baked goods, and hand-crafted items. Tofindoutmore,visitthefarmhouseattwotrees. com. Fall Local Living—33 Hayden’s Hope Craft Fair set for Sept. 9