Helping Rachel's Kids with auction, party



Dr. Rachel Navaneelan , left, and auctioneer Theresa Taylor look at a barbecue which was just one of the many items that ere up for grabs Sunday during the third annual Rachel's Kids Auction and Garden Party.

Residents gathered Sunday to raise funds for children both here and halfway around the world.

Thousands of dollars were raised at the third annual Rachel's Kids Auction and Garden Party, which was hosted by Dr. Rachel Navaneelan at her Riverdale home.

While the final tally wasn't immediately available organizers were hoping to hit the $50,000.00 mark.

In its first two years, the event has raised close to $75,000 for projects benefiting youth in Cornwall and in the dentist's native land of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Navaneelan said the community response has been amazing, and Sunday's event served as further proof of that as some 200 people attended the auction and garden party.

"I'm speechless," she said of the support. "The generosity of this community is amazing."

Among other things, the organization has built a school in Sri Lanka and provided supplies and scholarships to a school in Vietnam. Locally, Rachel;'s Kids ahs helped with the construction of an outdoor play facility at the Children's aid Society, provided lunch programs and baby supplies to Maison Baldwin House and sponsored an annual Children's trip and Christmas party for the Children's Treatment Centre.