Childcare fundraiser an artistic feast for the eyes
Fabulous framed art and cool raffle items to be auctioned May 12 and 13 at Ty Gwyn Gallery and Framing
BY KIM LANGEN
In a lively bid to raise cash for local childcare facilities, colourful framed art by youngsters is going under the hammer.
Two centres, Roots of Early Learning, and Killarney Nursery School, are jointly holding a Silent Art Auction this Friday and Saturday, featuring a plethora of creations, some in multi-media, and all made by children in their programs.
The goal is to raise money in order to help cover newly imposed, increased wages for child care employees, part of the impact of the government’s recently launched $10/day daycare program.
Susan Nafziger, ECE III and executive director of the two centres, said she was thrilled by the response to her call-out for support.
“The community has blown us away with donations,” she said. “The response from the time I shared the news about our fundraiser has been wonderful, and so many people have come forward. We have had around five boxes of frames donated, for the artwork, and 20 great items for the raffle, including a huge marten house, games, toys, a spa package, and Mom packages, and much more.”
Nafziger said that $4,000 to $5,000 was needed in order to keep both centres operating, and this has put a lot of pressure on directors in charge of ECE facilities.
“Fundraising used to be a fun thing, and now it’s all going to a bank account for wages,” she said. “We are struggling to pay our staff. And we need to hire new summer staff, in order to cover holidays for our regular staff this summer.”
More frames are also needed, said Nafziger, and they can be dropped off at Killarney Schools’ nursery school, and also at Roots of Learning, 305 Broadway Avenue, Killarney.
“They can just leave old frames inside the fence at the daycare on Broadway,” she said, if it’s not raining. “We still have a lot of art to frame. We have around 60 children in total at the two places, with around two pieces of work per child. The sizes we are looking for are 5”x7” for the smallest works, and up to 8”x10” for the larger ones. Any, and all kind of frames would be great.”
Roots of Early Learning and Killarney Nursery School’s Silent Art Auction takes place on Friday, May 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and again on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ty Gwyn Gallery and Framing, 508 Broadway Avenue, Killarney.
CHARMING ART AND A VERY BIG BIRD HOUSE – There will be lots of beautiful framed children’s art, along with loads of amazing raffle prizes – including this massive marten house, next to ECE director Susan Nafziger – at the upcoming Roots of Early Learning and Killarney Nursery School fundraiser. It will be a silent auction, and the event takes place next weekend at Ty Gwyn Gallery and Framing on Broadway Avenue.