Local church raises funds to reopen programming with local Yard Sale

May 12, 2022 · 0 Comments

Trinity United Church in Shelburne raised more than $1,600 through a yard sale fundraiser to help re-launch some of their pre-COVID programming.

The local United Church hosted the yard sale fundraiser at the church, located at 200 Owen Sound Street, on April 30.

“It was a great community event. It was fun to watch so many people stop by, browse, chat, and get to know one another better,” said Rev. Valerie Vande Wiele.

Proceeds from the yard sale were raised as a way to help reopen programs the church was a part of prior to the pandemic. One specific project the church is focused on bringing back is a meal program, such as the Soup Haus, which provided nutritious, complementary dinners to anyone out for the evening.

“We really feel it’s important to offer a space where people can share a meal together in safe place at least once a month,” said Rev. Valerie. “We are looking into how we can do that. The ultimate goal is to offer the community at large at least one sold meal a month. It’s not an extraordinary goal, but it’s a start and we will build from there.”

At the fundraiser, Trinity United Church sold a variety of yard sale treasures, many of which were provided through community donations.

“Churches are places that tend to gather a lot of stuff and for us a yard sale is giving a new life to things. We respect creations so if other people can use it instead of it going into a landfill, it’s given a second life,” said Rev. Valerie.

Trinity United Church also raised donations by selling a variety of “Church Lady” pies.

Remaining items from the yard sale are being donated to the Diabetes Association.

“We are proud to have the support of the community and to be able to offer support for the community. This is an affirmation of who we are, what we stand for and that we are walking in the right direction. We want to be there for the community and continue looking into offering other services,” said Rev. Valerie.

Trinity United Church will be hosting another fundraising event at the end of the month, which will be a concert starring Gary Heaslip and friends. The event will be held in the church concert hall on May 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and can be reserved by calling 519-925-6343 or 519-925-0905.