Over 50 people gathered at the Regional Center the morning of May 12 to celebrate the success of the 14th Annual Rotary Garage Sale. With almost double the donations this year and the help of approximately 150 volunteers, the sale raised $40,600 in three busy, fun-filled days.
This year’s volunteers included some Friends of the Rotary Club, the Vermilion 4H Outdoor Club, the staff of the Vermilion Outreach School, staff and students from JR Robson High School, the Fire Department, and the Minor Hockey U18 team, who provided over 100 hours of the roughly 1400 hours in volunteer time.
Since the sales began in 2008, the project has raised $232,826 to invest straight back into the community. Some of the projects that have benefitted from the sale include the Armories floor, the West End Manor, the Rowing Club, the Valley Lodge courtyards, the Museum, the outdoor rink and tennis courts, the Ice Plant, St. Jerome’s Inclusive Playground, and this year, the Vermilion Fire Department.
The first $5000 raised is earmarked for a community signature donation, and this year it was the Fire Departments' wish for a drone to aid in rescues and finding hot spots when needed. With the success of the sale, the club voted to donate the full cost of the drone of $9188.