“Kids Mart” to be hosted this Sunday in North Pole

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The first annual “Kids Mart” will be held this Sunday in North Pole at the Speedway Express gas station off 3392 Badger Road in North Pole.

The event is for anyone 18 years old or younger in the community (Fairbanks, North Pole, and surrounding areas) to learn financial responsibility and about the value of their worth and time. The community’s youth will be setting up their own booths to sell their own products. Whether that be drinks, baked goods, art, or home and lifestyle goods, there will be a little of everything at Sunday’s event.

Organizer, Keith Fons, got the idea to put Kids Mart together from teaching his own children the value of money and time while they’d accompany Fons while he worked this summer. In a matter of three weeks, Fons gathered large community support from local businesses and residents and the event now has an estimated 200 young vendors ready to show up Sunday and make some cash before school starts.

“I learned at a very young age your time is worth something, it’s got value. You do work, you get paid. You take that money, you pay your bills, and whatever you have left over, you get to enjoy your life. So, this summer my kids have been riding with me while I’ve been doing deliveries seven days a week and I’ve taught them and they’re learning the value of money and the value of your time,” says Fons. It was that philosophy that led him to expand those important lessons to the community’s kids.

In addition to the young vendors, there will be live music and a bouncy house for the kids to enjoy.

This will be a cash only event and will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 30th.

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