First Presbyterian Church will host its fourth annual Holiday Bazaar and Cookie Walk on Saturday to raise money for mission trips for the church youth group.

One organizer, Nancy Goodwin, who is part of the youth and family leadership team, said there are less than half of the tickets remaining. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon at the church, 308 Water St. in Albert Lea.

Steve Piper, youth director, said the church takes an international mission trip every four years, and the money raised from the cookie walk goes to defray the costs for the youth who attend. He noted in the last international trip, when the church went to Jamaica, people had to spend $1,000 each.

“For some of them, this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Piper said.

Instead of simply selling products for a fundraiser, however, he said the church leaders try to develop fundraisers that have a service component behind them.

“If you’re entertaining for the holidays, this is an easy way for you to entertain,” he said. “You can get a variety of cookies.”

Goodwin said the first year, the church just had the cookie walk. People pay for the price of a ticket, check in for their time slot and then go into a decorated room with an assortment of cookies set out on plates. They get 15 minutes to fill up their boxes with cookies; whatever fits into their box with the lid closed they get to take home.

“You could easily get three dozen cookies in your box, and they’re all homemade,” she said.

Each time slot is limited to a certain number of people. There are over 60 women making cookies for the event.

Goodwin said as she talked to the women who came the first year, they suggested to add more to it. Being a crafter, she liked the idea of having a craft bazaar. She went to the congregation’s members, and others joined in.

This year, there will be everything for sales from hats and scarves, to woodwork, tissue box covers, doll clothes and baby blankets, to name a few.

There will also be free coffee and cider, and Santa will make a visit.

Goodwin and Piper said the youth help with the setup, with some of the cookie baking, with keeping the tables stocked with cookies and in cleanup.

Admission to the holiday bazaar is free. Tickets are $20 for the cookie walk. Tickets are available at the church office or the day of the event at the door.