CHESAPEAKE - The clock is ticking and St. Ann's Catholic Woman's Club wants the community to start Christmas shopping early.

The club will host its annual Christmas Bazaar and Bake Sale this Saturday.

Most of the hard work is over for the group, who along with church members ,start working to prepare for the bazaar in the summer. The group also has some evening workshops and other church members make projects at home to donate to the bazaar. One gentleman, CWC member Linda McComas said, even cuts out all the wood for the projects.

&#8220It is really a major church effort,” McComas said. &#8220Everyone helps out.”

McComas said this is her 10th year at the bazaar as a member of the church but she actually shopped at the event for years before attending the church, she said.

Along with the handmade projects and baked goods, shoppers can also take a chance on the raffle that includes $100 cash, a handmade afghan, a handmade quilt, a set of wooden reindeer and a few surprises McComas said they will be giving away.

This year, she said, the group just completed a cookbook they will be selling at the bazaar. McComas said a lot of people in the church contributed to the book.

&#8220We have some wonderful cooks in the church,” she said. &#8220I can't wait to try out some of the recipes.”

The bazaar is the major fund-raiser every year for the church's projects and raises funds for events they have. A few of the projects the church is involved in are the Community Mission Outreach in Chesapeake, donating items to schools for underprivileged children, and helping local domestic violence shelters. The group also supports the youth group at the church.

McComas said the bazaar is also a good time to see people they may only see that one time of the year and they enjoy the socializing as well as the working.

&#8220It's a very nice event,” she said. &#8220We enjoy it, the socializing as well as the working.”

The bazaar will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the St. Ann Church social hall, located at 310 Third Avenue in Chesapeake.

Lunch will be served beginning at 11 a.m. The community is invited.