Community
An exceptionally successful Handbags and Gladrags fundraiser for CanInspire Charitable Trust was run last Saturday night. 48 people dressed up in their best to attend the mystery handbag auction at Industry, raising over $4000 for the charity.
Southland CanBead Tutor and key organiser for the event, Rachael Todd, began the evening by sharing her story from participating in a CanBead workshop herself whilst going through cancer treatment as a teenager, to volunteering and then tutoring. Her mother also volunteers, and was in charge of décor for the event.
CanBead workshops provide creative therapy for people experiencing illness, trauma and loss in conjunction with host agencies such as Cancer Society, the Invercargill Loss & Grief Centre and Stroke Foundation. Participants are taught basic jewellery-making skills and receive a kit bag with tools and materials, to continue to make jewellery whenever they feel the need for some distraction.
Colleen Simpson spoke about how she was attracted to volunteer for the charity after moving south, with it being a good match for her craft skills. She shared how blessed she feels after assisting at each workshop, with her most memorable volunteer moment being working with a mother and daughter at a Southland Help workshop, and seeing their satisfaction from creating jewellery to be a gift for another family member.
A few eyes got watery as Grandparents Raising Grandchildren participant Reba Pottinger shared the struggles she went through in gaining custody of her grandchild, and how that trauma still affects her today. She attended a workshop in February this year and continues to find the mindfulness of creating jewellery helpful to take her mind of things.
The fun of the evening was the auction itself. Handbags were donated from NZ companies Furmoo, Saben, Home-Lee, as well as local stores H & J Smith Invercargill and With Grace Winton, plus a couple of individuals. 12 handbags in all, filled with mystery goodies, were auctioned off by Simon Swale for a total of $2,900. 10 raffles raised a further $1,200.
Southland CanBead Coordinator, Rachael Allan, says “The Southland team have been extremely humbled by the number of businesses that supported the fundraiser, as well as the generosity shown on the evening. The funds raised mean we can now confirm workshop bookings with several agencies on our waiting list.”