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Purchasing for a higher purpose
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Times photo: Brian Gray Cherri Fields, left, helps customers Betty Parkinson and Heidi West, 16, look through merchandise, Saturday, at Shop for a Cure at the Monroe Middle School. Money raised from the event was donated to the American Cancer Society.
MONROE - If the number of people at the Monroe Middle School Saturday is any indication, the Shop for a Cure has continued to grow since it began four years ago.

The first year it was held at the Moose Lodge but as the number of vendors grew, so did the need for space.

"It's grown a lot," said JoAnn Steuri, one of the event's founders. "We needed to find a larger place to have it."

This year there were 40 vendors at the school.

Most of the publicity for the event, which raises money to fight cancer, has been by word of mouth. The relay teams, who gather in June for the annual Relay for Life, have told others about it. Many who came to shop were part of the Relay for Life event held each year at Monroe High School.

Shop for a Cure was sponsored by the Green County Relay for Life, and proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society.

Steuri worked with Dee Miler to organize the Shop for a Cure.

Miller said people turn out to shop because they know their are supporting a worthy cause.

Seventh-graders also volunteered their time to help with the event, Miller said. She said she was happy to see them helping out.

People were able to purchase make-up, toys, books and jewelry, just to name of few of the items available for sale.

Lisa Heindel, Monroe, looked around, but also found time to do a little shopping.

"I bought some spices," she said.

Along with the shopping, people also signed up for a door-prize drawing and raffles.

In addition, lunch and snacks were available.

"Some people just come for the food," Steuri said, with a laugh.

But, regardless of motivation, the money shoppers spent went to help raise money to fight cancer.