AMHERST - Hearts are what make the blood run hot, and anybody wanting to send their heart aflutter can attend ‘An Affair of the Heart' Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Amherst.
"It's a Valentine tea and shopping party," said Tammy Arseneau, a Mary Kay consultant who, along with 10 other home based businesses, will set up a booth at the Heart and Stroke Foundation fundraiser.
"We're going to charge $5 at the door, and people are going to come in and have their plate of sandwiches and sweets, tea and coffee and punch...and the next step down is our large room with all our vendors," added Arseneau.
Vendors will be selling candy, cosmetics, jewelry, candles, purses and scarves, scrapbooking supplies, spices, cheesecake, Tupperware, and a booth will be set up where a photographer with props will take a photographs.
All profits go the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Harriett Burbine is also a Mary Kay consultant and will join Arseneau at the Mary Kay booth.
"There will be demonstrations as well," said Burbine. "The Mary Kay girls will demonstrate lip stick and things like that."
This is the first year a home-based business fundraiser has been held for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Amherst, and Arseneau said participants are looking forward to the event.
"A lot of these are home based industries and they don't have a place to showcase their products except for having parties," she said. "They looked at this and are really excited about being a part of it."
Besides showcasing their products, it's also a good opportunity to showcase the importance of regular health checkups.
Arseneau's grandfather died from heart disease in his early sixties and Burbine lost both her husband and father to heart disease.
"Many husband's don't want to go to the doctor and it's usually the women who push them to go," said Arseneau. "You might think you're perfectly healthy but you don't know until you go and get checked."
"Women are the caregivers for their whole family," added Burbine. "We will have information about heart disease at the shopping party, and also hope to have somebody there who will take blood pressure for anybody who wants have their blood pressure checked."
dmathieson@amherstdaily.com
