This holiday season, the Friends of Beaverdams Church are offering an anxiety-free, safe online store, stocked with hundreds of gift items.
Spurred by the success of this past summer’s virtual online yard sale, the Friends have once again found a way to provide a valuable service to the community, while funding their ongoing mission.
For nearly two centuries the historic church has sat, perched on the banks of Lake Gibson, where it gradually became more and more ravaged by time, its structure battered by the elements.
But that changed about five years ago, when the enthusiastic Friends, spearheaded by President David Cowan and his wife Donna, took on the considerable challenge of resurrecting the church from a crumbling eyesore into the community hub it once was.
By hosting various fundraising events, and with the help of benefactors like Ontario Power Generation, the grassroots group of Friends has completely transformed the historic church’s exterior, from foundation to roof, while still managing to maintain its historical integrity.
Dr. Robert Shipley, a retired Professor of Urban Planning and Municipal Heritage at University of Waterloo, has nominated the Friends of Beaverdams Church for a National Trust for Canada award for their impressive restoration of the church exterior.
Poised to tackle the interior renovations, the Friends have found themselves stymied—due to Covid-19—from hosting some of their largest fundraising events in 2020.
But buoyed by a recent donation—one of many in a series from OPG—and a plethora of new and gently used items contributed from the community, the Friends are happy to be hosting their holiday store, continuing through Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Among the many sale items featured include an electric snow shovel, GT snow racer, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls collector set, and vintage children’s sleigh, as well as books, packs of greeting cards, holiday and home décor, ladies’ accessories, and many more.
Dozens of unique, handmade tablecloths, napkins, runners and assorted linens have been hand-sewn by Dianne Fields to dress up your holiday table, along with one-of-a-kind stuffed bears, skunks, foxes, puppies and kittens, all created especially for the Friends by the group’s long-time supporter and seamstress, Bev Interisano.
Royal Doulton figurines and Beaverdams Church note cards, iconic photos and posters are also available.
As always, all funds raised from the online sale will be used to transform the church. Once complete, the Friends plan to host concerts, weddings, and a variety of other community events in the historic 1814 building.
If you’re eager to start your Christmas shopping, but leery about making the trek to the mall, click on the online store here.
