Residents at Avalon Gardens Independent Senior Living are putting their time and creativity to good work, and just in time for the residence’s Spring Craft Fair, June 11!
Everyone is invited to come down from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and shop for locally created crafts, baked goods, produce, brews, jewelry and much more. With more than thirty local vendors, a food truck, free entry for hourly door prizes and a 50/50 draw, this promises to be a fair to remember!
A special feature of this year’s craft fair is the Hearts for Humanity Fundraiser, which brings Avalon residents together with the community to support the Red Cross and its efforts in Ukraine.
Throughout this spring, residents, their families, and community members, including Langley Christian High School students, gathered to make cardboard hearts and paint them into Ukraine Flags.
Businesses were also involved – Erin Martens from Opus Langley donated the paint, Nathan Van Diermen from Cloverdale Paints donated the brushes, and Wally Martin from Princess and the Pea donated cardboard for the hearts.
The hearts will be posted all over the building and you’re invited to come by and take a selfie while browsing at the craft fair, where the hearts will be sold by donation, with proceeds going to the Red Cross. Visitors are encouraged to take photos of the hearts and post them on Facebook to be entered to win a beautiful wooden charcuterie board and bowls.
Avalon Gardens owners Dean Weinkauf and Ron Baba have also generously offered to match all donations to a total sum of $5,000!
Avalon Gardens Activities Manager Lauren Ang has also been making Friends of Ukraine friendship bracelets that will be sold to raise funds.
“I actually got the idea while we were making friendship bracelets at Avalon,” Ang says.”While making more at home, I happened to make one that was the colours of the Ukraine flag. My husband (whose family is from Ukraine) asked if he could have it, and then we thought, I wonder if we could raise some money this way?”
Ang says they plan to keep making and selling the bracelets at Avalon as long as there’s a need, and adding that “we’ve already raised $1,743 which was matched by the owners for a total of $3,486!”
“Our thoughts & prayers are with Ukraine during this horrific time in history,” says Avalon Marketing Coordinator Bonnie McDonald. “The fundraising will go on indefinitely even after the war ends – the country will need support to rebuild their communities.”
Their fundraising goal is $10,000, so the public is encouraged to come down to 22323 48th Ave. Langley and show their support while enjoying the fantastic features of the craft fair.
Learn more about Avalon Gardens on Facebook and Instagram.