Smaller yard sale still raises bucks for Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc.

Mary Beneteau reconnected with Lawrence Musyj, one of her former students when she was a teacher. Mary and Marc Beneteau hosted a fundraising yard sale last week at their home.

It was a smaller sale but its organizers are still hoping the proceeds can do big things.

The large charity yard sale returned for another year, even though it had been expected not to. Held at the home of Marc and Mary Beneteau last weekend, all proceeds go to a trio of shelters in the D. R. Congo that were founded by Father Donato Lwiyando.

The organizing committee, some of whom are on the social justice committee at St. John the Baptist Church, met Father Donato when he was the associate priest at the Roman Catholic parish.

Mary said last Friday, the second day of the three-day sale, things were a bit slower but the crowds were still steady.

“We’re still selling stuff,” she said. “It’s good.”

Mary added while they had about one-third of their usual amount of goods for sale, it led to it not being “as crazy as last year.” There were still a lot of returning faces, though Mary joked some just came for lunch.

“One person just came for the hot dogs,” she said with a laugh.

A lot of donations for the sale came in as the yard sale got closer, with Mary stating a story in the May 21 issue of the River Town Times was helpful.

“We did get quite a few donations,” said Mary.

In addition to raising money for the shelters, Mary said she was able to reconnect with people she hadn’t seen for a long time. A retired teacher, Mary was able to see several former students during the yard sale.

“It’s so personally fulfilling for me when I see all of these people,” she said.

The aim of the Canadian charity The Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc. is to feed, house, clothe, educate and prepare the youth in the D. R. Congo for the future, she added. Mary thanked the community for its ongoing support.

Lara Sinnott, one of the many volunteers, said the charity yard sale was still good though it was on a smaller scale. Bonnie Deslippe added they weren’t originally planning to have a yard sale but a large donation came in and they put it on.

“We’re just passionate about what we do,” said Deslippe.

“The people here are really devoted to the shelters,” added Mary.

For more information on the charity, to make a donation or to sponsor a child, please visit www.hopeislife.ca. People can mail donations by cheque to Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc., 273 Fryer St., Amherstburg, ON N9V 3G7 or e-transfer donations to stjoseph@hopeislife.ca. 

Smaller yard sale still raises bucks for Hope of St. Joseph Shelter Inc.

By Ron Giofu