Drink, Shop, and Support FernCare at Rust Belt on Friday

There's no time like this weekend to get your holiday shopping in at the Rust Belt Market.

From 5-9 p.m. Friday, the artisan market at Nine Mile and Woodward will host its second annual Not-So-Silent Night drink and shop event to benefit FernCare Free Clinic.

DJs Mike Trombley and Coleman Esj Young will provide entertainment and guests will be able to shop from the market's more than 60 local vendors. There is no cover charge to attend.

Here are the ways you can help support the Ferndale-based free health clinic at the event:

• Gift wrapping: FernCare volunteers will offer gift-wrapping for a donation for all gifts purchased at the market.
• Raffle: You can buy raffle tickets for $2 each and place your ticket in a jar for the prize you want. Donated prizes include gift cards and items from a variety of Ferndale area businesses.
• Drinks: The Rust Belt has a one-night-only liquor license for the event, so here's your chance to have a drink while you shop. $5 donation for beer or wine.

Last year's Not-So-Silent Night generated nearly $1,000 for FernCare, said Rust Belt co-owner Chris Best, and he hopes they'll raise even more this year. The market will not keep any of the proceeds.

"If you're gonna have fun you might as well have fun for a good cause," Best said. "It's that time of the year when everybody tries to help [others] out a little bit."

And the Ferndale business community was quick to get involved, donating signage for the event, the beer and wine that will be served, and many raffle items.

Best said he simply asked the business owners and there was no hesitation to give.

"It was pretty awesome," he said, but also not that surprising. "It's just the way Ferndale is. Ferndale is a really strong, really cooperative business community. Everybody works together."

Find more information on the event here.

Businesses that have donated gift cards or other items include:

• Downtown Ferndale Bike Shop
• Local Kitchen and Bar
• Red Hook / Pinwheel Bakery
• Green Thumb Garden Center
• Naka
• Toast
• Found Sound
• Revolution Signs
• Rosie O'Grady's
• Woodward Avenue Brewers
• Royal Oak Brewery
• The Oakland
• Western Market
• Treat Dreams
• Essential Massage Therapy