Haiti In the Helm Holiday Shopping Experience To Support a Worthy Cause

St. Stephen’s students, employees and parent volunteers are transforming the Scanlan Art Gallery in the Helm Fine Arts Center into your mission-focused holiday shopping headquarters. Haiti in the Helm serves as one of the largest fundraisers of the year for St. Etienne, St. Stephen’s sister school in Salmadere, Haiti. Your purchases go a long way: every $10 the school raises supports a St. Etienne student’s education for one month, including daily lunch and clean well water. More than 250 students attend the school.

Shoppers are sure to find special gifts for others or themselves at affordable price points — including metal artwork, paintings by Haitian artists, unique handmade jewelry, ornaments and handmade soap crafted by students and Upper School mathematics instructor Kurt Oehler ’93. If you arrive early enough, you might even get your hands on a bag (or two!) of specially roasted coffee by Head of School Chris Gunnin.

“My favorite thing about the marketplace is seeing the support for St. Etienne,” said Cameron Carper ’25, student co-sponsor of the Haiti Club. 

 

Carper has assisted with operating the market every December since she was a freshman. One of her favorite aspects is seeing both middle schoolers shop for their friends and family members, and learn about the 21-year partnership between St. Stephen’s and St. Etienne.

“This makes it not only a fundraiser, but a community occasion,” said Carper.

In previous years, the market has been filled with artisan gifts brought back by members of the St. Stephen’s community who traveled to Haiti as part of partnership and commitment to the ongoing work. Currently, St. Stephen’s Haiti travel is on hiatus because of unrest and other political challenges. Despite the travel pause, organizers and volunteers have worked hard this year to fill the shelves with unique and ethically-sourced merchandise from local Austin vendors. 

“Coming to the market and learning about St. Etienne is really important for our community since we haven’t had that first hand opportunity for students to go visit Haiti over the last several years,” said Hilary Bellm P ’29 ’25, a parent volunteer and former Parents’ Association president.

Bellm says her own children have given her several gifts that they picked out at previous markets.

“I’m always super excited to get them on Christmas morning,” said Bellm. “It gives them a chance to show some autonomy and creativity and gift giving!”

Friday, December 13

Daytime: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. 

Evening: 30 minutes before and after the Winter Orchestra Concert (7 p.m. start)

Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 14 & 15

Evening: 30 minutes before and after the Festival of Lessons & Carols (7 p.m. start)