“A Call to the Kind Hearted” fundraiser happening from Sept 25-29

Calling it “not your typical fundraiser,” a local woman is attempting to hold a large sale to help her raise funds to maintain an income.

Johanna Johnson will be hosting the sale, which runs from Thursday through next Monday (Sept. 29), noting her health is deteriorating and she needs to sell some of her belongings in order to be able to maintain a lifestyle that she can enjoy.

After being injured in 2002 during her job as an interior designer, work she said she enjoyed every aspect of, she said she required 16 surgeries with a back surgery planned for later this year to make it 17 operations. 

Physical pain and financial hardship followed.

“I list my ability to do all the other things that had made my life a happy one until that time,” said Johnson. “No longer could I maintain the over 1,000 feet of beautiful gardens I had designed and created. No longer could I maintain my home to an acceptable standard. Entertaining was no longer physically possible on the scale I was used to. My ability to be a good wife, mother and grandmother were seriously impacted. I had also been active as an artist doing shows and that too was no longer possible.”

Johnson changed direction, noting “forgiveness was required before I was even able to consider what I could still do with my life.” She began journaling and that was “a tremendous tool of healing for me.” Johnson decided to publish a book with “Expressions of Faith, Hope and Love” coming out in a couple of months.

Creating costume jewellery became another way for her to express her creativity and Johnson spent approximately two years creating it and building up inventory.

“Everything I made was one of a kind,” she said. “I decided that since the two major Christian stores had closed, I would carry a high-quality line of stainless-steel jewellery reflecting that theme.

Her two great-grandsons were born, but because one has a serious condition that impacts his heart, her plans were again put to the side so she could do what she could to help her granddaughter and her husband. Those efforts included a fundraiser that proved to be successful.

“We were able to help this young family restore some semblance of normalcy to their lives,” said Johnson.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, she has had health issues continue to where she is not sure “from one day to the next whether I would be able to function.”

“I have reached the point where every incoming earning avenue has become physically impossible,” she said. 

The ability to maintain her home has been difficult as has the gardening she once enjoyed.

“I don’t plan to give up on life, but I definitely have to forgo my previous lifestyle.  I am hoping that by selling the things that went along with that lifestyle, I will be able to raise the money to do what I can no longer do,” said Johnson.  “The gardens would have to be reimagined to become more self-sustaining so that once that was accomplished, the services of a gardener would become far less demanding. Otherwise, the home itself is more or less set up to manage life with all the limitations I now face.”

Johnson added will be limited to writing and artwork, the latter without framing or doing shows.  

“The jewelry and all the other creations with jewelry quality materials can no longer be part of my life,” she added.

People can purchase items for sale at her home at 3515 Concession 3 North from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each of the sale dates.

“A Call to the Kind Hearted” fundraiser happening from Sept 25-29

By RTT Staff