Paris Curling Club silent auction raises nearly $800 for local families

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

A long-running holiday tradition at the Paris Curling Club took on a more local focus in December, raising nearly $800 to support two Paris families during the Christmas season.

Members of the club’s afternoon ladies’ league held their annual silent auction as part of their Christmas celebration, directing the proceeds to families connected to North Ward Elementary School and Holy Family Elementary School.

“The Silent Auction has been a part of our Christmas celebration for approximately 12 years,” said Jean Emmott, chair of the Afternoon Ladies’ Social Committee. “Originally, it was initiated to subsidize our catered meal. When we changed to an organized potluck five years ago, we continued the Silent Auction with proceeds going to Nova Vita Women’s Shelter in Brantford.”

This year, the committee opted to keep the support closer to home.

“One of our Social Committee members suggested we reach out locally and support needy families in Paris,” Emmott said. “Our 38 members eagerly supported the idea and we decided to begin this year with two families — one from Holy Family Elementary and one from North Ward Elementary.”

Committee member Judie Pezzetta contacted the principals at both schools, who selected families requiring assistance. Emmott said the two schools were chosen at random and the group plans to support families from Cobblestone Elementary School and Sacred Heart Elementary School next year.

The fundraiser drew strong participation from club members, who donated all of the auction items.

“Many members donated items including home baking, preserves and delicacies, home crafted items, re-gifted items and brand new items, which all brought some exciting bidding on the day of the auction,” said Pezzetta, who spearheaded the initiative. 

In addition to auction bids, a cash donation box was set up and shared with the club’s Wednesday night Under-5 (years of experience) League and Thursday Morning Mixed League, further boosting the total raised.

Once the fundraising was complete, the money and gifts were distributed through the schools to maintain the families’ anonymity. At Holy Family School, funds were directed toward winter clothing for a newly arrived family with five children.

“She had just received five children in one family who had just arrived from a country where snow does not exist,” Emmott said of the Holy Family principal. The school principal and a staff member used the donated money to purchase the much needed items on the family’s behalf. In a letter of thanks, the parents wrote, “This gesture has made our Christmas season even more special and we are very appreciative of the care and generosity shown to our family.”

Support for the North Ward family included toys, a stuffed stocking for each child, candy, fruit and a $120 No Frills gift certificate to purchase a Christmas dinner. The mother provided a wish list and the ladies from the club, as well as the principal completed the shopping.  

“Our curling groups were so excited to share in the Spirit of Christmas in this way,” Pezzetta said. “We look forward with excitement to next year and hope, in some way, this inspires others to reach out and help those less fortunate.”

Emmott credited Pezzetta for leading the effort. “This endeavour was the suggestion of Judie Pezzetta who spearheaded this campaign,” she said. “We are so proud of her leadership.”