It’s been a decade since Tracy MacDonald launched a craft show and fundraiser with a focus on preventing domestic abuse in memory of her best friend, Jessica Nethery, but the atmosphere at the event tends to stay the same each year.
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“The vibe in here’s always so much love, people come together,” MacDonald said. “It’s been a great day.”
The 10th edition of the United We Stand artisan market in loving memory of Nethery ran from 10 am to 4 pm Saturday at the Polish Hall at the corner of Exmouth and Front streets.
“The turnover’s been pretty good,” MacDonald said. “A little bit quieter than most years, but it’s a beautiful day out and there’s other vendor events going on.”
Saturday’s proceeds went to Sarnia-Lambton Rebound’s Tools for Achieving Growth program. It works with male youth between the ages of eight and 12 to develop skills and techniques to address impulse control, aggression, decision-making, bullying and building healthy friendships, according to the event’s Facebook page.
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“Prevention is the ley to ending domestic abuse, and this starts with our youth. By giving them the tools they need to successfully navigate their lives, feelings and emotions we can help them everything they dream of and more — violence free,” it says.
Nethery, a 21-year-old Sarnia woman, was found stabbed to death in a parked car on May 4, 2002. Her former partner, Jeremy Molitor, an amateur boxer from Sarnia, was found guilty of second-degree murder in 2004. Molitor was paroled in 2019.
MacDonald said Saturday’s show tries to raise awareness of domestic abuse and, by supporting the TAG program, they hope to help prevent it, too.
“It helps them deal with their emotions and how to create safe spaces, safe people, relationships,” she said. “It really does that preventative measure with the young youth to help them.”
In the years after Nethery’s death, her family started a two-pitch baseball charity event in Courtright. The tournament ended long ago, but 10 years ago MacDonald put together the first United We Stand artisan show.
“Women’s Interval Home, the Center (Sarnia-Lambton), The Haven Youth Shelter and now Rebound have all benefited over the last 10 years from this event,” she said.
MacDonald also spearheads a gala that raises money for a scholarship in Nethery’s name at Lambton College.
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