NEWS RELEASE
SHELLDALE FAMILY GETAWAY
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Shelldale Family Gateway, a non-profit community organization serving children, youth and their families in the Onward Willow neighbourhood of Guelph, is stepping into spring with a fundraiser to support its youth programs. With Earth Day fast approaching and the buds beginning to bloom, the Step into Spring Online Auction and Art Sale will offer a wide array of items to bid on, including some special art pieces created by kids at this year’s March Break Camp and youth attending Shelldale FG’s youth programs.
“Shelldale Family Gateway relies on the generosity of donors to fund programs like the after school and Breakfast Club,” says Shelldale FG’s Executive Director, Diana Boal. “Funds raised through this auction and all of our fundraisers are directly applied to our programs that are designed to meet the diverse needs of children, youth, and their families in Onward Willow and that support and celebrate the multiculturalism of this special community.”
Shelldale FG’s programs are invested in helping children and youth become the best they can be through socialization, leadership skills, sports and nutrition. With the warmer weather on the horizon, Shelldale FG’s summer camps will start. “With COVID restrictions easing up in schools, in stores and at Shelldale FG, through these programs we can continue to help these young minds to make a healthy transition to normal life and to fully engage in school, at home, and in their community,” adds Boal.
“Our community partners and businesses in Guelph have donated several fantastic items for our auction. Bidders will have their pick of health and beauty, home décor, fashion, food certificates and many other items,” says Shelldale FG board member, Michele Richardson.
The theme of the auction also takes note of Earth Day, which is April 22nd. As a way for kids to get involved and to think about the planet, March Break campers and community youth created original, one-of-a-kind works of art to submit for the auction. “We were overwhelmed by the creativity of the artwork. It was a difficult task to select ones for the auction as every painting or drawing was so colourful and unique. Bidders will also have a hard time choosing one for their home or office,” says Richardson.
Shelldale hopes to raise a minimum of $5,000 to support the organization’s camps, breakfast club, and other much-needed programs that benefit the area’s most vulnerable children, youth and their families.
Bidding for the Step into Spring Auction and Online Art Sale starts at noon on April 14th and closes at 5 p.m. on April 22nd. The link to Shelldale FG’s auction is on their website at shelldale.ca.
If you’d like to contribute an item to the auction or to sponsor the event, contact Executive Director, Diana Boal, at [email protected]
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