The Royal City Gogos are preparing to sell off a mother lode of arts and crafts supplies in their ongoing efforts to support grandmothers in Africa who are raising children orphaned by AIDS.
Fabric, seasonal items, papercraft products, glass crafts, and mosaic supplies are among the items up for grabs at the Royal City Gogos’ upcoming fundraiser – the Art and Craft De-Stashing Sale. The Gogos will be selling quality new and nearly new craft supplies at sale, with most items ranging from $1 to $5.
“Royal City Gogos are overwhelmed by a windfall of incredible craft supplies for this De-Stashing Sale,” said Janine Reid, founder of the Royal City Gogos. “Supplies from every craft you can imagine are on offer – mosaics, stained glass, needlework, beading, polymer clay, sewing, papercraft, stamping, painting, etc. etc. We have bundled items and priced them to sell – our favourite price is $1!”
Reid said crafters, elementary school teachers, Girl Guide leaders and day-care providers will be thrilled with the variety and the prices of items available at the sale.
“The dressmaking fabrics and designer décor fabrics will be a big hit – everything $5 per metre,” she said. “There are supplies for kids too – pipe cleaners, pom-poms, glitter, marking pens that kids will love. It’s best to come early for great selection.”
The Art and Craft De-Stashing Sale is on Saturday, Oct. 19 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 20 (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) at the Unifor Hall, 326 12th St. (You can check out a preview here.)
A month later, the Royal City Gogos will host their popular Artisan Crafts for Africa Sale. This year’s sale is on Friday, Nov. 15 (3 to 7:30 p.m.) and Saturday, Nov. 16 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Unifor Hall.
15 years of support
The Royal City Gogos raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, which supports African grandmothers who are caring for children who have been orphaned by AIDS.
Spring 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of the Royal City Gogos. At that point in time, the New West-based group had raised more than $826,000 for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign since its inception.
Its efforts have not gone unnoticed.
According to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign team, the Royal City Gogos are one of its Top 10 fundraising groups.
In a letter to the local group, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign noted that 20 per cent of the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s annual fundraising revenue in 2023 was generated by groups like Royal City Gogos, with 90 per cent of these funds channelled directly to bolstering the work of community-led organizations working alongside grandmothers in their communities.
“Your group’s unwavering support is a vital part of this work,” said Niambi Martin-John, director of development with the Stephen Lewis Foundation and The Grandmothers Campaign Team, in a letter to the group. “We would like to express our immense gratitude for your fundraising efforts over the past 15 years.”
Since 2006, women and their allies in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom have joined together to support women in Africa who have had to overcome barriers resulting from the HIV epidemic in their communities, said Martin-John.
“Royal City Gogos has been an integral part of this movement since 2009, and we thank you for the time and effort you have wholeheartedly dedicated to this important work,” she wrote.
