Trade your pennies in for play, or support one of the many other fundraisers planned in the next few months to help build an accessible playground in West Sechelt.
With the recent announcement by the federal government that they will no longer be making the penny, members of the West Sechelt Playground Enhancement Committee (WSPEC) have launched a penny drive to capture some of the coins that are about to go out of style.
We want to catch those pennies on their way out because they do add up. We think we can raise a couple of hundred dollars at least from the penny drive, said fundraising co-ordinator Aspen Wing.
The penny drive was launched this week with a large coin jar at Wilson Creek IGA and one at West Sechelt Elementary School. The group is looking for additional secure locations to set up the jars as well.
The penny drive is a new addition to the group's fundraising efforts which include selling Play 4 All bracelets. The blue bracelets have been available at stores around Sechelt since the beginning of March for a minimum donation of $2.
So far the bracelet sales have added up to more than $400.
One large event WSPEC has on the horizon has been generating a lot of buzz with young families. On Aug. 25 they will be bringing the popular singing group Bobs and Lolo to the Coast for an outdoor show in Dougall Park. The event will also feature local author Heather Conn reading from her book Gracie's Got a Secret, face painting, balloon animals, hot dogs, popcorn, refreshments and a bouncy castle.
The cost for the Bobs and Lolo In The Park event is $10 for children over the age of one and $15 for adults. There is also a family rate of $45.
People can buy tickets at the school for now or they can contact us through the website at www.coastalinclusion.com or on our Facebook page. Just look for West Sechelt Playground Enhancement Committee, Wing said. There will be more places to buy tickets closer to the event as well.
Other smaller fundraisers planned for the coming months include a large garage sale at WSES on May 5 from 9 a.m. to noon, an on-going coin drive at the school, a Donate To The Dream board where donations of $2, $5, $10, $20 and $50 are marked with a coloured brick and the upcoming Coast Market on June 1.
While WSPEC is not putting on the Coast Market, they will be receiving all of the proceeds from the event that runs from 4 to 9 p.m.
The WSPEC is also trying to set up fundraiser at the Lighthouse Pub and they are applying for a total of 10 grants this year.
All of this is hoped to result in some serious money for the playground effort a project that needs a little more than $130,000 for phase one alone.
We really want to reach that goal of raising enough for phase one this year, Wing said, noting the group currently has about $13,000 in their account.
In phase one WSPEC plans to add some engaging and accessible equipment to the existing playground at West Sechelt Elementary School and replace the existing gravel with an accessible ground cover.
Phase two and three involve building new accessible park areas geared toward different ages on the school grounds.
To find out more about their plans, to donate or to get involved go to their website at www.coastalinclusion.com, find them on Facebook or contact Wing at 604-741-0633.
