“I want to be famous one day,” Barbara Morehead, a Fishtown resident and member of St. Anne’s Senior Community Center (2607 E. Cumberland St.), said. “I love art… I really do and I’m not cutting my ear off either.”

Morehead says working with watercolors, Chinese ink and stained glass, among other mediums, helps her to relax and makes her feel fulfilled.

Her work, along with about 20 other vendors’ crafts, were on sale at St. Anne’s Spring Craft Fair on Saturday, March 12. All types of crafts were available, like homemade pens, knitted baby clothes and St. Patty’s Day wreaths.

The youngest crafter was 11-year-old Megan Kempinski who currently lives in Richboro, PA. Her table was mainly holiday-themed, with crafts like painted wooden snowmen, Easter signs and bunny dolls. Kempinski also planned to donate some of her proceeds to help kids with autism.

“I had autistic kids at my school and I always liked to play with them and help them,” Kempinski said. “They were moving schools so I decided to have a fundraiser for them. So some money is going to the fundraiser.”

For Maryanne Yost, a participant in the craft fair who has lived in the neighborhood for 63 years, Kempinski’s story was special to hear since Yost’s 7-year-old granddaughter is autistic.

“That’s a special cause to my heart… [My granddaughter] is right here from the neighborhood. She’s always been a little smarty-pants but now she’s getting better with her social skills,” Yost said. “I thought it was really nice of [Kempinski] to do that. I did buy a few things to support her.”

One of St. Anne’s Senior Center’s main goals is to give back to the community. St. Anne’s requires no membership fee and offers programs to help people 50 and over maintain an active mind, a satisfying social life and a healthy body.

Isabel Burgos became a member of St. Anne’s this past summer and told Spirit News about all of the benefits the center has offered her.

“After I became sick two years ago, my mom passed right after that. I started to get depressed and this just picked me up,” Burgos said. “I love the people here… I come in here and I get hugs and I get kisses. I look forward to coming here everyday.”

Karen Rouse, director of the Senior Center, organized the event to raise more money for the center and provide an opportunity for seniors to bring in income. She also wanted to find a way to promote community involvement at the center.

“People kinda feel ‘Oh, it’s a senior center. Oh, they’re just in there and they aren’t involved in the community.’ But we are a part of the community,” Rouse said.

Maria Cunningham, who claims to have a decoration at home for every holiday, is a Port Richmond resident who stopped by the center on Saturday to see what local crafters had to offer.

“I’m glad they had [the craft fair] to show the talent of other people and as I say, that’s where I get my decorations. I’d rather buy something personal for myself or a gift than go to A.C. Moore or something,” she said.

Rouse, a crafter herself, thinks it is very beneficial for seniors to stay active by making art.

“Some of our members have been doing it for years. But for others, they just learned or are trying new things… It’s an opportunity for them to learn from each other. The other thing is socialization,” Rouse said.

Morehead supports Rouse’s passion for encouraging art amongst the seniors.

“We should have more art,” she said. “It’s part of our culture. I think we should embellish it.”

All aspects of creating community and family were apparent at the center on Saturday. Laughter and chit-chat could be heard over the sounds of coffee brewing. Rows of brightly lined tables filled the room as visitors milled around, touching tulle wreaths or personalized, wooden magnets.

“It’s already beyond what I expected,” Rouse said.