The Duncan Rotary Club is partnering with the Duncan Curling Club with an online “garage sale” with new and gently used items, with more than 530 items in total, donated by members of the curling club, Rotary Club and the general public.
The Duncan Curling Club, like many other sports venues, closed in March, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The club started the season last fall with all the mandatory health protocols in place, and it ran for two months with no events and very little bar sales before all indoor activities were shut down by the province.
That’s when a member of the curling club approached the Duncan Rotary Club to see if there was a way to partner on a fundraiser.
“What Rotary Clubs around the world like to do is partner with other organizations, both locally and abroad, to achieve its goals,” said Gregg Perry, president of the Duncan Rotary Club.
“In this case, we’re helping out a local sports organization during the unfortunate but necessary closure, as well as raising funds for causes like our partnership with the School Orchards Africa Society, providing a means of water collection and distribution for schools in Tanzania.”
Perry said that, locally, the rotary club is also supporting the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to provide children with a book a month from birth to age five, providing scholarships and bursaries for high school grads, and helping Nourish Cowichan in its mission to provide meals for students in need.
“We are grateful for the popular support of our auction initiatives,” he said.
Brent Dellebuur, president of the Duncan Curling Club, said the club is extremely pleased that it has been given the opportunity to partner with the Rotary Club for the fundraiser.
“When I was first approached, it was just shortly after our season had been shut down and everyone was frustrated with the way our season ended,” he said.
“This has sparked some enthusiasm for both our members and the community at large. I for one am grateful for all the efforts put into this event and hope for brighter days ahead.”
In the online auction, which closes on May 22, you will find everything from a recumbent e-bike, to a mini-rototiller, assorted household goods and furniture and experiences like a fishing trip, an online cooking lesson with Ian Blom, the Red Seal Chef from the Ainslie Restaurant, and a guided kayak trip for two.
To access the auction, go to auctria.events/RotaryGarageSaleCurlingClubFundraiser.
