Almost Annual Clothing Sale Fundraiser
Well, there’s good news and bad news.
First, the bad news.
It is with considerable regret that Bowen Children’s Centre announces to the community that its tremendously popular Clothing Sale Fundraiser will not take place this spring. Despite an exhaustive search BCC was unable to secure a suitable sorting and storing location. Without the elbow room in which to collect, cull, sort, assess, fold and store the literally thousands of items of gently-used, once loved men’s, women’s and teens’ clothing and accessories that the community generously donates, the Children’s Centre cannot produce the event.
In fact, finding ‘the secret sorting location’ has been becoming increasingly difficult in recent years, culminating with this spring’s reluctant decision to put the fundraiser ON HOLD temporarily.
Now, the good news.
Bowen Children’s Centre is committed to retaining the Clothing Sale, which is its core fundraiser. Further, in terms of the bigger picture, the Centre intends to secure the event’s sustainability and alleviate the annual stress of searching for a benevolent basement by constructing its own Clothing Sale headquarters. The Centre is planning to build its own not-so-secret sorting location on its property, and to then hold the Clothing Sale semi-annually, in the fall as well as the spring.
Over the past ten years, the Bowen Children’s Centre Annual Clothing Sale Fundraiser has grown from a tiny, spontaneous ‘clothing swap’ into an immensely popular community event that’s supported by hundreds of islanders.
Funds raised at the Clothing Sale are invested in Bowen Children’s Centre’s programs for children – the Community Daycare, The After School Club and Bowen Island Preschool – and a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Bowen Island Food Bank as well. The Clothing Sale is ‘green’. It’s philanthropic. It’s useful. It’s fun. And it’s very Bowen.
What about the Knick Knack Nook, you ask? BCC and the KKN have had discussions since before the KKN was built, and have agreed on a plan to collaborate and support one another. The Clothing Sale ‘recycles’ FAR more clothing that the KKN could ever manage, and the two organizations see each other as complementary.
For more information on supporting the Children’s Centre’s project, please contact BCC at 947-9626, or info@bowenchildrenscentre.ca.