For Melissa Seagrove, community building is part of what she does as a local realtor for Edge Realty Solutions.
She organized Secret Santa Centre Wellington because she wanted to do something to support her charity of choice, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington (BBBSCW), but also to promote a unique networking opportunity by encouraging strangers to connect in the spirit of the season, all with an emphasis on shopping locally.
By registering to join the Secret Santa Centre Wellington event for a fee of $15, participant funds went directly to support BBBSCW.
Organizers then randomly matched participants for the gift exchange, with a maximum gift limit of $15. Local vendors were invited to advertise a selection of items they had in their shops for $15 or less. On Dec. 4, participants gathered at the Elora Brewing Company for the local fare and the final gift exchange. For some, it was a time to reconnect with old friends, and for others, it was an introduction to people in their community.
Through the Secret Santa Centre Wellington registration fee and extra donations raised the inaugural event presented $1,000 to BBBSCW – a local organization that matches adults with children and expands their trusted circle of people they can go to and look up to.
“This was a really fun event and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington is so proud to partner with Melissa from Edge Realty Solutions for it,” said Kristen Drexler, executive director of BBBSCW.
“We are looking for ways to be able to expand our services to help more kids in our community and this is a great way to generate awareness and funds for the work we do.”
Seagrove has confirmed this event will run again in 2017, with 60 confirmed ambassadors to support the event when registration opens next fall. For information, visit the Secret Santa Centre Wellington Facebook page, or to learn how you can support BBBSCW, visit www.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/centrewellington.
