A group of residents at Tapestry at Arbutus Walk teamed up with employees from our Wellness department to hold a garage sale that raised $1,000 for the Parkinson Society of British Columbia.

This was the second consecutive year Tapestry hosted a garage sale open to the public. Tish, who lives at Arbutus Walk and took the lead organizing the sale, estimates that around 200 people visited the sales tables set up outside the community on Yew Street.

“Garage sales and thrift stores are so popular now,” Tish says. “Everyone appreciates things have a second or third life. It keeps things out of the landfill, and it’s better for the planet,” she adds.

Tish knows a thing or two about thrift stores. She volunteered for 11 years at Life’s Second Chance Thrift Store which is associated with LIFE Recovery Association, a registered charity providing abstinence-based residential recovery to support women who are overcoming addiction.

Tish also organized a fashion show in support of the association, featuring models both from the store’s volunteer ranks, and from the recovery association’s clientele.

When asked what kept her volunteering at the thrift store for 11 years, Tish says that besides the work being for a good cause, “The beauty of volunteering is that the other people who are volunteering are all such good people. You get to rub shoulders with them and make friends.”

Tish recruited all her friends at Tapestry to help with and participate in the garage sale, and some relatives of residents also contributed. There were about 10 tables of goods set up for sale, with everything ranging from puzzles, books, jewelry and clothing to small furniture pieces.

Everyone involved in the event – even those who just donated a few items for the sale – felt a strong sense of community spirit, Tish says. “It creates a sense of pride in what we do,” she adds.

This year’s fundraising amount of $1,100 was close to double the amount raised last year. The funds were donated to the Parkinson SuperWalk, which takes place in September. The walk is the Parkinson Society’s largest awareness and fundraising even each year and the proceeds help grow its programs and services, expand advocacy, and increase its investment in innovative research.

Tapestry’s participation in the SuperWalk was spearheaded by one of our Resident Ambassadors a few years ago, after some members of the community had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This year, several Tapestry residents also made personal donations and joined in the walk, which takes place in Stanley Park with walking routes of two and five kilometres, and a 10-kilometre run.

Supporting our residents’ involvement in the local community, and the causes that are important to them, is part of Tapestry’s holistic approach to wellness. If you are looking to join a vibrant community of older adults who share your values and are living life to the fullest, please contact us. We would be pleased to host you for lunch and a tour.