Help End Violence Against Women: Third Annual National Garage Sale for Shelter

By Sahar Fatima

Real estate company Royal LePage is contributing its part to combat the problem of violence against women by hosting the third annual National Garage Sale for Shelter on Saturday May 14 at its many locations across Canada in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. This is the nation’s largest public foundation targeted towards shelters and ending violence against women and children.

Members of local communities had the opportunity to start their spring cleaning by donating used items to their local Royal LePage office, and may browse through all the items this Saturday to find great bargains. Many locations will also have barbecues, bake sales, family activities, and plant sales.

Because Royal LePage and the event sponsors pay for the administrative costs, 100 percent of the revenues are used to support over 200 local shelters and violence prevention programs across the country and aid over 30,000 women and children every year.

“Fifty-one percent of women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16,” says Shanan Spencer-Brown, Executive Director of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation. She adds that 360,000 children are exposed to family violence each year.

“All of the money that’s raised from the National Garage Sale supports either women who have experienced domestic violence who are staying in shelters, as well as programs that really are to break the cycle of violence.”

The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation supports programs with the Canadian Women’s Foundation  that teach women how to rebuild their lives after leaving the shelter through employment skills training in order for them to live independently. It also supports the Fourth R, a youth program focused on healthy relationships, as well as programs for child witnesses of violence.

Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate agency to have its own charitable organization. From the past two National Garage Sales, beginning in 2009, the Shelter Foundation has raised close to $450,000 – the money raised in 2010 was double the amount from 2009 and they are hoping for another great outcome this year.

Realtors with Royal LePage also often donate a portion of their commission to the Shelter Foundation, along with holding local fundraising events. Since the foundation’s inception in 1999, it has raised $12 million, allowing it to support shelters and violence prevention programs. 

Can’t attend the event but still want to donate? Click here to access a printable donation form.

Image courtesy Saira Waters