A group of local small-business owners are showcasing their wares while also raising money for a good cause Friday night.
Annick Gelinas, owner of TM3 Boutique, is helping host the Friday Night Social on Oct. 27, which runs from 6-9 p.m., at the Waterfront Fitness and Pilates Studio, located at 17 Gowan St., Unit 1. She said it promises to be an evening of fun and support for local female-owned small businesses while making a positive impact on the community.
What makes this event even more special is its commitment to helping the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre on Patterson Road, she added.
Gelinas, who launched her boutique a few years ago, says it was after joining the local fitness studio and chatting with the owner that they found a common interest.
“We just wanted to have a space for people to show their product and not have to pay a fee," she told BarrieToday. "It’s a really fun atmosphere and it was very important to us to support an organization in the community.
"We have already supported Ryan’s Hope. This time around it’s for the Barrie OSPCA," Gelinas added. "We love animals and we are very big on helping out the animals."
They are asking guests to consider donating to the charity, and then they will also host a raffle.
"We ask the vendors to donate an item and we sell tickets the night of (the event)," she said, adding all of the money raised goes directly to the organization they are supporting that evening.
As a registered charity, the Ontario SPCA Barrie Animal Centre does not receive any government funding, said Shannon Laflamme, who works as a community outreach co-ordinator for the centre. That means they rely solely on the generosity of donors to keep the shelter operating.
“Local businesses that are holding events for us, all of that makes such a huge difference to the animals, whether it’s someone who has gone through their closet and is dropping off their old bedding, someone has dropped off paper towels or dish soap … all of that is helping the animals that we have in our care,” Laflamme said.
While the local shelter often runs its own fundraisers, as well as participating in corporate-wide events such as cupcake day and No Hot Pets, third-party events such as the one happening Friday evening at Waterfront Pilates are a great way for the local community to help support the shelter, she added.
“They’re taking it on themselves. They have chosen to do this for our animals," Laflamme said. "Sometimes we don’t even know. They show up to our animal shelter and they have a big bag of goodies or a Ziploc bag of change. We get a lot of kids that sell at garage sales … all of that is so beneficial. It truly means the most to us, especially when you get the kids coming in.
“It’s a big deal for us. Anything that the community is willing to help out with is so beneficial for us," she added.
The Patterson Road shelter helps find homes for an average of 500 animals each year. Open since 1968, the Barrie Animal Centre is operated by the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, which has a budget of $15 million annually to operate all of its centres.
“We are proud to have invested in our Barrie Animal Centre in 2022 to better serve the community and provide a more comfortable environment for the animals in our care," Melissa Kosowan, associate director of communications for the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, said in an email to BarrieToday.
"As interest in adoption has slowed, animals are now staying with us longer and the cost to care for them has increased from approximately 40 to 60 per cent,” she added.
The Barrie facility's volunteers and donors are its lifeblood, said Laflamme, as it has continued to offer its services for more than 50 years.
“Our volunteers are such a huge part of the SPCA in general, but especially the Barrie centre," Laflamme said. "We have volunteers that come in and are volunteering… 20 or 30 hours each week. They are just so dedicated and a huge support to us.
“Barrie is so kind to us. Sometimes we are in need of the little things like soap, paper towels and toilet paper … and I will put out a post. Within hours, we have people stopping by … and leave it at the front door. It really is what keeps our doors open," she added.
Anyone interested in hosting their own fundraiser can contact the Barrie Animal Centre via email.
