By Emma Meldrum
Long Sault’s Annual Community Yard Sale brought together local organizations, residents, and visitors alike on Saturday, May 23rd. The event is more than a yard sale – it’s also a fundraiser for the local fire department. Each participating home donated a dollar to have their name listed on a map of the village.
“By 7 in the morning, we had people here asking for maps. The town popped alive bright and early,” said Kim Stewart, owner of Stokefire at the Long Sault Plaza. Stewart pitched in this year to help organize, as the event’s founder Donna Primeau, a councillor for South Stormont, was away on vacation.
Long Sault residents Heath and Emma Patterson (aged 11 and 13) organized a bake sale to feed hungry shoppers – and to fund raise for their trip to camp in New Brunswick this summer.
“Mom made most of it and after school we helped to make some stuff,” said Heath. “We have specialties that we’re really good at. I’m good at chocolate cupcakes, brownies, and fudge.”
Local businesses and organizations benefited from the additional traffic as well. “It had to be the busiest day of the year for Tim Hortons,” said Stewart. “And the Long Sault firefighters ran out of buns twice during their barbeque.”
Stewart noted that the event would not have been possible without the assistance of the Township of South Stormont.