In an effort to raise money for new practice mats for Cinnaminson cheerleaders, the association will hold a vendor fair fundraiser Sept. 7.

Lisa Bishop, one of three board members with the Cinnaminson Cheerleading Association, is planning the event and said this is the first time the group has done as many fundraisers as they have.

This year, Bishop said, the girls needed new practice mats. The price tag was more than $5,000.

“We wanted to raise that money rather than increase the registration for all the girls,” Bishop said. “We decided to fundraise it all.”

From 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, 23 vendors will be on-hand at the Sacred Heart Church gymnasium in Riverton. A portion of their sales that night will be donated to the cheerleading association.

Bishop said there would be mostly home-based businesses like Tastefully Simple, 31 Gifts, Silpada and many more.

Earlier this year, Cinnaminson football players moved from Pop Warner to the South Jersey Independent Youth Football association. Cinnaminson cheerleaders are in both leagues—in Pop Warner, the older cheerleaders perform in competitions and in the SJIYF, the younger cheerleaders cheer for the football teams.

There are 55 girls in the entire cheerleading program in Cinnaminson. Two of the older squads practice at Cinnaminson Middle School but since the mats were shared between them and the wrestlers, it was time for new ones.

The younger girls practice at the Memorial School.

The cheerleaders’ fundraise throughout the year with bake sales and other events, but the vendor fair is the biggest one. Cheerleading practice started on Aug. 1 and the season runs until Dec. 1. The first competition for the Pop Warner girls is Oct. 13.

If you go:

What? Cinnaminson Cheerleading Association’s Girls’ Night Out Vendor Fair

Where? Sacred Heart, 103 Fourth Street, Riverton

When? 7-10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 7

Admission: Free