Mental Health Resource League announces plans for Fall Diddley
The Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County announced that its annual Fall Diddley craft show will be held the weekend of Oct. 9-10 at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Belvidere.
Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County expects that all Centers for Disease Control and health department guidelines will be followed in order to make the show as safe as possible for attendees and crafters.
Although there are no current mask mandates for outdoor shows, Fall Diddly organizers strongly encourage that all crafters and attendees wear masks while attending the show.
Fall Diddley crafters will be set up in tents and buildings throughout the fairgrounds.
The Fall Diddley show regularly includes over 300 crafters.
Although countless items are available from crafters, there is generally a focus on gift items focusing on the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays since the show takes place in October and close to the holidays.
The Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County is a 100% volunteer-run, nonprofit organization that holds two nationally acclaimed craft shows (Fair Diddley in May on the Woodstock Square in Woodstock and Fall Diddley in October).
One hundred percent of the net proceeds from these two shows are allocated to 16 McHenry County nonprofit agencies that focus on the needs of individuals suffering from mental health related disorders.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Fair and Fall Diddley shows were cancelled in 2020 creating an enormous shortfall in funding for the 16 agencies that are supported by the Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County.
Several local foundations and anonymous donors stepped in late 2020 to help offset the funding deficit.
Nearly $162,000 was generously donated and ultimately allocated to the 16 nonprofit agencies. Although the 2021 Fair Diddley show was cancelled due to the pandemic, the Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County expects the 2021 Fall Diddley show to be a huge success and well attended.
Learn more about the Mental Health Resource League and its craft shows at www.mhrl.org. The Mental Health Resource League for McHenry County can also be reached by email at info@mhrl.org and on Facebook by searching for "Fair Diddley & Fall Diddley- MHRL."