Chilliwack fundraiser for Kenyan widows, orphans rakes in more than $10,000

A successful fundraiser benefitting widows and orphans of Kenya brought in more than $10,000 on the weekend.

The giant garage sale fundraiser hosted by Voice of Hope saw a steady stream of folks as they browsed through the thousands of items for sale set up in a Chilliwack barn on Saturday, June 27.

To help with physical distancing protocols, people could only go one way through the garage sale which was filled with kitchen items, linens, books and more.

A total of $10,100 was raise that day for widows and orphans of Kenya. More money is expected to come in from a handful of larger-valued items, like a hospital bed, that they are selling on social media.

READ MORE: Giant garage sale supporting Chilliwack group’s efforts in Kenya

Voice of Hope is run by a group of Chilliwack women. They have been working to improve the quality of life for Kenya’s impoverished widows and orphans since 2013. Normally, they would be planning a trip to visit Kakamega, Kenya, in October but with the restrictions due to COVID-19, they have put their trip off until the fall of 2021.

The women have been collecting donated items for the giant garage sale since January.

Saturday’s fundraiser was so successful, they will be having another giant garage sale on Saturday, July 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7350 Barrow Rd. There will also be hot dogs for sale.

Anyone who missed the June 27 garage sale fundraiser and would like to help with the cause can donate bottles and cans to the ongoing Voice of Hope bottle drive. Bottle and cans can be dropped off any time at 7350 Barrow Rd. Look for the “Bottles and cans drop off” sign on the south side of the grey building with red doors.

Additionally, if you would like to donate to the next garage sale fundraiser, you can drop off items at the above address on July 15 and July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more info, contact Sue Koopman at 604-391-1554 or Mary-Anne Westeringh at 604-316-1204.

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READ MORE: Chilliwack brings hope to widows in Kenya