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Christmas is coming a bit earlier this year at Martha’s Task.

Martha’s Task has been receiving so many requests for holiday merchandise that the organization decided to hold its annual Open House shopping event in October this year. The event will be spread out over three days to allow shoppers more social distance when making their purchases. Hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7th and Friday, Oct. 9th at 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8th at 718 S. Johnstone Ave.

In a statement, Martha’s Task Executive Director Laura Walton, “We are changing things up a bit this year since 2020 has unique challenges. We wanted to continue our tradition of having the Open House, but we will have goody bags to-go this year instead of offering a buffet spread with treats. We will still have an amazing selection of gift items for shoppers, door prizes and expanded hours for the big event. It’s going to be a special time.”

Martha’s Task is celebrating 20 years of serving the community this year. A Bartlesville nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating poverty, Martha’s Task provides job training programs teaching low income women to become seamstresses and craft items that are sold in the group’s downtown store.

 Each item sold in Martha’s Task store has a story behind it. Martha’s Task offers a seamstress training program through which low income women earn wages while learning to sew and the clients keep 100 percent of the profits of each item they sell in the organization’s store. The nonprofit agency also offers an emergency assistance program where women who have an immediate need work for three hours crafting special items and walk out with cash in hand to help pay for a bill, prescription or groceries.

“When you buy our merchandise at Martha’s Task, you are helping to alleviate poverty in our community and you are buying a true made-in-Oklahoma, made-in-Bartlesville product,” Walton said. “We know our customers love buying high-quality merchandise that supports women in need. It’s a fabulous feeling all the way around.”

The Martha’s Task economic development program is made possible by generous community members who donate fabric, sewing notions and used sewing machines, providing the raw materials that enable women to use their talents to engage in creative, productive, work. The community benefits by recycling items they no longer need into the materials that create jobs for others, and the women of Martha's Task are empowered with new skills enabling them to better support themselves and their families.

For those who are unable to attend Martha’s Task Open House, the organization’s store is regularly open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call Martha’s Task at 918.336.8275, visit marthastask.com or follow the organization on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.