Sip and Shop Extravaganza on Nov. 21 to Benefit Rays of Hope

SPRINGFIELD — Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be so stressful.

At least, not while browsing the first Rays of Hope Sip & Shop Extravaganza to be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Quinta Inn & Suites on 100 Congress St. in Springfield.

The first-time holiday fund-raiser for the Rays of Hope will feature more than 20 vendors selling a variety of handmade items and specialty foods such as handbags, hand-painted ties and scarves, cooking utensils, metal artwork, Christmas ornaments, engraved wooden items, create-your-own home fragrances, organic herbs and aromatherapy teas, and more. Food vendors will include Tastefully Simple and Pop’s Biscotti & Chocolates. There will also be Rays of Hope items for sale, including hand-painted wine glasses.

The entrance fee is $10, and the first 100 shoppers through the door will receive a silver quilted tote bag with the Rays of Hope logo and a signature cocktail to sip on while shopping. There will also be a cash bar.

Since its inception in 1994, Rays of Hope has been helping women and men in the fight against breast cancer. Through the Baystate Health Breast Network, Rays of Hope provides funding for state-of-the-art equipment, breast-health programs and outreach, and education throughout Baystate Health, as well as providing grants for complementary therapies and cancer programs to community partners.

For more information on the Sip and Shop event, call Barb Turcotte at (413) 794-7737 or Michelle Graci at (413) 794-4654. For more information on Baystate Health, visit baystatehealth.org. For more information on Rays of Hope, visit baystatehealth.org/raysofhope.