The Creche, a local all-volunteer women’s organization, is preparing for its annual fall sale being held Oct. 4-6 in the undercroft of St Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Creche began in 1900, and its members have a long-standing history of helping local children and meeting needs in the pediatric departments of local hospitals. Its projects have changed and evolved over the last century, but the goal of helping families with children remains the same.

The present-day Holiday Gifts Committee provides families with presents at Christmas, while the Camperships Committee provides funds for children to attend area summer camps. The Child Assistance Committee investigates needs of area families and donates beds, linens and other necessary items to keep children healthy and safe.

Creche’s Hospital Committee provides a Halo Sleep Sac to each child born at UPMC Chautauqua each year, and the School Support Committee purchases needed items each year for children in 20 area schools. Funds are also dispersed to send six Chautauqua County children to Royal Family Kids Camp each year.

Special fundraising projects have been a hallmark of Creche’s history. Modern day efforts raise the necessary funds to support its many programs.

The recent Golf Tournament, Fore the Children, and the Friends of Creche Campaign, help to build up the $80,000 yearly budget needed to implement its programs. Assistance at the Gran Fondo each year and sales from the upcoming fall sale also bring in much-needed funds.

The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday with a bag sale.