Community yard sale helps send children to camp

What started out five years ago as the Caisse Populaire Alliance barbecue and yard sale in Bonfield, has grown into a community event.

Families and various organizations set up shop in the parking lot of the Caisse Populaire, to hold a massive community yard sale.

“I got the position of branch manager six years ago, and I thought ‘what can I do for the community to let them know who I am and what we’re about," explained Lise Allard, branch manager.

“So along with the employees, we planned this barbecue and yard sale. They bring their tables, they bring their treasures, there’s no fee and our barbecue is always a fundraiser for an organization that needs it in the community.”

This year the proceeds from Saturday’s barbecue is going to the Bonfield Kids Summer Camp at Camp Caritou.

“I’m really happy to say that it is fully booked. We’re not accepting any more children. We have 46 attending the camp. So next year we’re planning on maybe doing another week in July and possibly another week in August,” said Allard.

“I sit on the parks and recreation committee for the township and I specifically told them any families that cannot afford the $50 a week cost, Caisse Populaire will sponsor those children. No child is refused.”

Volunteers representing Friends of Camp Caritou worked at a number of their own tables full of items to sell.

Cindy Brownlee president of Friends of Camp Caritou says the group is thrilled by the reception the camp is getting.

“We’re excited to see that it is having an increase in usage. We have various youth organizations, guiding and scouting, cadets, and the township is running a summer camp. People have had family reunions out there, school reunions. So, it is exciting to see the place back in action again,” said Brownlee.

“The Friends of Camp Caritou has been fundraising since we first started our efforts to save the camp, and now that the camp is back in operation, we want to try and offset some of the expenses with fundraising.”

The group began its fundraising efforts in 2010 when it set out to save the camp.

“In 2017 the camp reopened, jointly owned by the Friends of Camp Caritou and the Bonfield and District Lions Club. That way we can keep the cost as low as we can to make sure it is accessible for the kids to use,” said Brownlee.  

“There have been lots of people here today. The Township of Bonfield is a wonderfully supportive community and we’ve had people from the city come out here as well, so it has been a good day.”

Across town, the Bonfield volunteer fire department had vehicles lined up for its fundraising car wash.

“We’re fundraising for the Bonfield Fire Department Association to purchase equipment and whatever else we use for the fire department,” said Fire Chief Gilles Lebel.

“The day was pretty successful. It was busy. We’re constantly doing fundraising for our association.”

The Caisse manager is impressed by the way the community rallies around this one-day event.

“It is just amazing how it has really brought the community together, selling their treasures and talking to each other. It has been really great, especially for me being new to Bonfield,” said Allard.

In the past, the barbecue has helped organizations like the food bank, the family life centre and the parish hall with its renovations.