Oxford Mills Sisterhood of Guiding (OMSG), once again, had to put on their thinking caps to help them raise funds so they can attend a GIGANTIC Girl Guide event where 5,000+ girls from all branches will come together from across Ontario and Nunavut. This one-of-a-kind event will take place at Exhibition Place in Toronto from May 24 – 25, 2024. The theme is: “Take action for a better world”.
Members from OMSG, from 5-year-old sparks to 15-year-old pathfinders, together with their guiding leaders, will be part of this overnight camping event. Activities include designing and creating in the Arts Pavilion, exploring STEM, and so much more!
The OMSG Guiding unit is no stranger to the hard work of fundraising to help them reach their goals, as last year they raised enough money for the Pathfinder and Ranger units to travel to Alberta. The local Guiding unit wants people to feel value for money in supporting their fundraising efforts, and that is considered in the events they host.
One of the OMSG fundraising efforts is this Saturday, March 23, from 11am – 2pm. The Guides will be hosting a BBQ at B&H. While people are hopping around downtown, they should hop by B&H and show their support for the BBQ. Girl Guide cookies will also be available.
A spaghetti supper fundraiser is also scheduled for April 13. This annual event is a great opportunity for the guides to learn about budgeting, smart shopping, portion calculations, and time management. In addition to regular noodles, they also offer zucchini noodles, gluten-free pasta, and sugar-free desserts, as well as their usual selection of sauces, caesar salad, and fresh garlic bread. OMSG guiding offers the spaghetti supper as a pay what you can dinner, in the hopes that those less fortunate can also enjoy, while those that can afford it, contribute what they can.
Another event will be on Saturday, May 11. The busy Guiding bunch will be hosting the North Grenville Community Theatre’s traveling show of Romance on the Road, which is an all-comedy mix of two one-act plays being held at Maplewood Hall in Oxford Mills at 7pm. In addition, OMSG is offering a rib and chicken dinner starting at 5pm on that day. Come and enjoy this great night out, together with someone special on this Mother’s Day weekend.
In addition to the aforementioned activities, the OMSG Guiding unit will soon be having an online auction. They are still gathering auction items, so if anyone has things they would like to donate, please see the contact info below. The auction is expected to go live at the end of March, and will run for approximately a week, with new items being added throughout the auction. Auction lead, Guider Charlotte Maxwell, says last year’s auction raised over $1,000, and she is hoping this event will be just as successful.
Guider Ann Robinson, with 30+ years in guiding with OMSG, says: “There’s plenty of challenges in planning any trip. The payoff comes when the community comes together to support the youth at fundraising, and I get to witness the magical smiles and lifelong memories being made after all the hard work they’ve put into it.”
After being a guide leader for 15 years, Guider Mary-Anne Leang always enjoys seeing the guides’ pride in the practical skills they learn by these fundraising events, having fun and creating bonds with their Guiding sisters. She adds that the looks on their faces as they count their net profit at the end of the evening is always priceless, and helps them to see the value of their hard work.
Follow the OMSG Guiding Facebook page at Oxford Mills Sisterhood of Guiding-Community for updates, or check the Upcoming Events section of the NG Times. If you have any questions, please email oxfordmillstripunit@gmail.com, or contact Ann Lalonde or Mary-Anne Leang.
