Asbury First Holiday Bazaar Returns November 21 and 22
The Short Version
- In 2025, the Asbury First Storehouse provided clothing or goods to 5,818 Rochester residents and served 13,690 hot meals — and 2026 demand is running 11–46% ahead of those numbers.
- The Asbury First Holiday Bazaar runs November 21–22 in Fellowship Hall at 1040 East Ave: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, with about 20 vendors.
- When Rochester families lose everything in a fire, the Red Cross frequently refers them to the Storehouse for clothing, household items, books, and toys for children.
- More than 200 volunteers power the Community Outreach Center, which brings meals, medical care, showers, laundry, haircuts, and bicycle repair under one roof on the Asbury First campus.
- Bazaar proceeds help meet rising program costs at a center where every service category — meals, laundry, showers, and families served — has climbed sharply in 2026.
The Asbury First Holiday Bazaar is back — two days of local vendors, holiday shopping, and food on-site, with proceeds helping meet rising program costs at one of Rochester's most active neighbor-to-neighbor operations. The bazaar runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 21 and 22, in Fellowship Hall at 1040 East Ave. Parking behind the church is free.
What to Expect at the Asbury First Holiday Bazaar
What to Expect at the Asbury First Holiday Bazaar
About 20 vendors will set up inside with poinsettias, puzzles, and Christmas merchandise. Three Kings Oasis will be on-site all weekend serving sandwiches, soups, and sweets. Free parking outside, handicap-accessible entry throughout.
The Storehouse Served 5,818 Neighbors Last Year — and Demand Is Still Growing
The Storehouse Served 5,818 Neighbors Last Year — and Demand Is Still Growing
According to the organizers, in 2025 the Asbury First Storehouse provided clothing or household goods to 5,818 Rochester residents. That same year, the Community Outreach Center served 13,690 hot meals, provided 1,577 showers, delivered 1,000 grocery bags, handled 682 loads of laundry, gave 245 haircuts, and repaired 275 bicycles. Each of those numbers is a person who showed up needing something and left with it.
The Storehouse carries more than clothing — linens, towels, and kitchenware go out the door too. When a family loses everything in a house fire, the Red Cross frequently sends them to the Storehouse because it carries clothing, household items, books, and toys for children.
This year, demand is running ahead of 2025: 11% more meals served, 46% more laundry loads, 36% more showers, and 5% more families receiving clothing and essential items.
Two Hundred Volunteers, One Renovated Building, Everything Under One Roof
Two Hundred Volunteers, One Renovated Building, Everything Under One Roof
The Community Outreach Center on the Asbury First campus brought clothing, hot meals, a medical clinic, showers, laundry, haircuts, and bicycle repair under one roof in a renovated historic building. More than 200 volunteers make it run.
When the center opened, building committee director Chuck Hanrahan described the idea plainly: take the ministries that had always been in dark basements with low ceilings and bring them into a space where guests are treated with respect and dignity.
The Dining & Caring Center serves hot meals Wednesday through Friday and on Sunday. The bicycle repair program runs May through September.
The bazaar runs Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22, at Asbury First on East Avenue.
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