WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News Leader"Ladies Day" at the Mall

It was an ideal day for the ladies at the Panama City Mall.

The first 1,000 ladies in attendance received a gift bag full of goodies and if they were lucky, they got a bag with a prize or gift certificate to use at an area business sponsoring the event.

Bob Pearce, American Red Cross Executive Director says, "Today is all about the ladies. So everything here is aimed at what makes the ladies, happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise."

This is the 5th time the local chapter of the American Red Cross has organized the event and organizers say its fundraiser's like this that help them provide local services.

"Every time you see on the news or in the newspaper that a house has burned down and the red cross is responding to assist the family. It's local donations that make that happen and fund raising events like this help us raise money to do that." said Pearce.

Ladies in attendance enjoyed one on one interactions with 45 vendors, leading to better business.

Kristen Thorton, Fairytale Consignment Sale says, "It gives the customer a face to see, it gives them a person to talk to about our business. We've been getting great feedback. We were saying it has one of the best ways to advertise for our business."

Local groups also took center stage with performances by the Harmony Shores Choir, who sang songs from grade school and ones honoring our troops and veterans for their service.

Darby Neptune, Unity Church, says, "I think women's expos have been igniting all around the country. It's an opportunity for women to network with each other, to see new kinds of products are out, which services are available to them. Just to be able to be informed about their community."