Presentation of cheques to four local Saugeen Shores charities: Total of $7,300 was raised during this year's Festival of Treasures hosted by St. Paul's Anglican Church in Southampton.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD the phrase “one person’s discard is another person’s treasure”? Well, it’s true.
For 12 years, St. Paul’s in Southampton has run an annual “Festival of Treasures” Sale on Civic Holiday, Friday night and Saturday morning. It has become a true community event!
The church invites the community through social media to bring in their no-longer-needed “treasures”. Everyone knows that every cent made will be given to local charities. The charities for the year are announced well in advance of the sale.
All donated items, including books, glassware, furniture, antiques, collectibles, gardening supplies, Christmas decorations, etc. are laid out on tables in the community hall over a period of ten days, and on opening night Friday, treasure seekers from far and near are lined up out the sidewalk and down the street, eagerly awaiting their chance to come in and find their new treasures, which they lovingly take away. Some treasure items have been known to reappear at several successive sales! Everything is given away by donation.
In recent years, St. Paul’s Treasure Sale has expanded to include a Jacket & Jewelry Boutique, Silent Auction (for those highly sought-after special treasures) and a Bake Sale.
This year, we celebrated the best year ever, realizing in excess of $7300 for community outreach, and cheques for $1800 were presented to each of Saugeen Shores Hospital Foundation, Saugeen Hospice, Salvation Army Food Bank and Living Hope Food Basket.
This is an annual community event where everyone wins. People can offer their no-longer-needed treasures, others can cherish their new finds, and community charities benefit from the fun experience! Everyone is invited to be generous, and generosity is contagious! Approximately $20,000 has been donated to community outreach in the last three years alone! And now, it’s time to start saving your treasures for next year!
Doug Goar