Garage sale to raise money for seniors
The owners of a Saskatoon clothing store are putting much of their extensive wardrobe up for sale to raise money for a dementia program.
Sisters Juanita Schindel and Colleen Tait, who own Sandbox in the City, have done this for five years to help out the day program at Oliver Lodge, where their mother, who has dementia, spends a lot of time.
“She loves it, even if she doesn’t remember later. In the moment, she’s happy here and she always asks about the program,” Tait said.
All proceeds from the garage sale will go to the program, which aims to improve quality of life for people with dementia and their families. It’s an all-day program, based on socializing and exercising the mind and body.
Since program participants are occupied for the day, it also provides needed respite for their regular caregivers.
The money raised at the garage sale will be used to improve the garden area.
“It will help with an outdoor living space for us in the summer months to garden and have barbecues. It benefits people greatly,” said Kimberley Marshall, director of the program.
Schindel and Tait said their mother used to love to spend time in the garden.
“This place is a home away from home; it’s safe and non-threatening. This is her gig, and I hope to see it around for a long time,” Schindel said.
Last year, the garage sale raised more than $3,000. The sisters will donate clothes, shoes and accessories, and they ask others to do the same. Prices at the garage sale will range from $2 to $40.
They recommend wearing leggings and a tank top to the sale; in the true spirit of garage sales, there will be no change rooms. It will be held in the store’s parking lot, rain or shine.
Clothes can be donated to the garage sale until Thursday.
The sale starts Friday at 10 a.m. and continues Saturday at 9 a.m.