Justin Patten has trouble finding mandarin oranges, his favorite canned-food item, in his family’s pantry. So when he found a can organizer at the flea-market table at the Hazy Day Fundraiser on Sunday afternoon he bought it with his mother in mind.

That wasn’t the only purchase the 7-year-old made. Patten needed a box to carry his flea market items: Scooby Doo stickers, a tractor, an E-Z Tracer, and a gingerbread pin.

Sunday’s event at the Cathedral of St. Helena served as a fundraising effort complete a pancake breakfast, baked goods and a silent auction in an effort to help the Mission in Guatemala.

Hazy Day is an annual church event named after the Rev. Jim Hazelton, who began the mission 44 years ago building churches and schools in Guatemala.

“My big work, apart from being a priest, is education,” Hazelton, 81, said.

Today, 565 students have graduated from the school he helped to build, and 40 small churches have been erected.

And, Hazelton says he’s not done yet.

There are more churches to be built, he said, adding that as long as he sees interest here and the need there, he’ll keep at it.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com