Correspondent photo / Bill Koch
ABOVE: Paige Fortner, program manager for Senior Support Action Group, sells tickets for the basket raffle at Sunday’s Christmas in July show at Cafe Rose in Austintown. The event’s proceeds will benefit SSAG.

Shoppers braved intermittent rain to peruse homemade creations such as crocheted items, candles, jewelry and baked goods. The occasional Grinch T-shirt and pine tree tablecloth made the environment more festive.

Co-owner Leah Sakacs said the business, 4491 Mahoning Ave., has been open a little more than two years, but this is their third such event. They always do it for a cause, and this time the proceeds, including money raised from a basket raffle, will go to the Senior Support Action Group.

“I’m a little biased,” admitted Sakacs, in choosing the recipient, as she is the one who started the organization.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, she identified a need for increased outreach to homebound senior citizens, so she created SSAG.

She decided a few years ago that she wanted to provide more intensive services. Besides running Cafe Rose, she is the executive director of Sight for All United, an agency committed to expanding vision care to the community, so her time was limited.

As a result, she hired Paige Fortner to be the program manager. Fortner said SSAG offers a monthly food box delivery, transportation to essential services such as doctor appointments and grocery shopping, and companionship through regular phone contact. She said they have 45 volunteers and this year served more than 400 seniors in Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Among the vendors was Diva Donations. On Sunday, they were selling dresses for $10, but normally they provide formal wear for women and girls with limited resources.

Secretary Kim McNight of Columbiana and President Tammy Engle of Canfield said they have outfitted hundreds of participants for proms, weddings, quinceaneras and even events at nursing homes and prisons. The all-volunteer organization also helps with hair and makeup for any special day.

Lynda DiBacco of Warren is the “Granny” who sells hairbows for Grandpa’s Girl Designed by Granny. She said she likes coming out for a good cause.

“With the cost of the electric and water bills, anything I can do for charity I try to do,” she said.

Austintown resident Cindy VanKirk was on her way to Family Farm and Home and stumbled upon the tents in the parking lot.

“I wanted to see what was going on. They have some really cool stuff,” VanKirk said.

Rich Tunison of Austintown was along for the ride as “my wife is the shopper.” Still, he said, “they have good items and it’s really nice they do these things.”

Sakacs said CafeRose sells only locally made goods, including coffee and non-alcoholic wine. Their hours are limited.

However, she said they are willing to make the store available for groups that do things to help others.

“I want to create a space for the community,” Sakacs said.