Maplewood decks halls for Christmas bazaar

Event raises $1,400 for Brighton long-term care home residents’ council

From reindeer made of hot chocolate powder and marshmallows to homemade cinnamon buns, Maplewood’s recent fundraiser proved to be very sweet.

The Brighton long-term care home hosted its annual Christmas bazaar Nov. 30. The event is Maplewood’s largest fundraiser, with all proceeds from the sale of baked goods and crafts supporting the home’s residents’ council.

This year Maplewood raised just over $1,400.

The bazaar provides a chance for relatives and community members to stop by and shop in support of a good cause.

“It was really well-attended,” Rachel Corkery, administrator and life enrichment co-ordinator at Maplewood, tells The OMNIway.

“It’s always well-attended.”

Visitors could also take a break and sit with loved ones and enjoy a refreshment in the tea room Maplewood created. “The tea room was packed from start to finish. There was actually a line-up waiting down the hallway to the front door at 2 p.m when we opened our doors,” Rachel notes.

The bazaar featured plenty of baking such as cakes, meat pies, cinnamon buns, banana bread and a number of other goodies.

Residents and staff made crafts, including decorated mason jars containing the dry ingredients for cookies. Other seniors knitted and crocheted dishcloths.

Life enrichment aide Rosanne Blackburn was busy making a wreath when she paused to speak with The OMNIway before the event. She said residents help make decisions about the design of the crafts and offer hands-on help as they are able.

“It’s nice for them to see they’re making accomplishments,” Rosanne said.

In addition to purchasing crafts and baked goods, shoppers could bid on one or several of a variety of higher-value items in an auction.

All of the money raised from the bazaar and auction goes directly towards outings and entertainment for residents. This helps them enjoy a variety of community activities, such as lunch outings and museum trips, at no charge all year long.

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