Yard sale to benefit Candlelighters of SW Florida
A 16-year-old Mariner High School student is hosting a yard sale to benefit a non-profit organization that helps kids who are diagnosed with cancer.
Mariner High School junior Tyler Young said he wanted to follow in his friend, Kameron Millice’s foot steps by carrying on his tradition of helping children with cancer. He explained that through his involvement as president of the 4-H group in Ohio he provided assistance to those with with the disease for four years.
The non-profit organization, Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, Inc., was chosen to benefit from the proceeds made during the yard sale after Young did some online research and discovered they used all of the donated money for programs for the children.
“All the money I raise will go towards Candlelighters,” he said.
Candlelighters of Southwest Florida, Inc. provides services for children through the age of 19 in Collier, Lee Charlotte, Hendry and Glades County who are affected by cancer. The organization has helped approximately 350 families since it was established in 1983.
Young began collecting a broad range of items at the end of September for the yard sale. A bake sale and snack stand also will be set up during the yard sale to raise additional funds for Candlelighters.
Development Chairman Ruth Gapp has been with the non-profit organization for 15 years. She explained that the organization is a children’s cancer support group that tries to keep the “kids happy, active and involved.”
The organization not only takes provides support for children who are affected by cancer, but the whole family as well.
“We don’t let anyone sit by the wayside,” Gapp said. “Everyone in the family is taken care of because everyone is affected.”
Gapp explained that whatever activities they can afford to do with the kids they do locally.
“It is so important for them because it gives them a day to forget about their illness and it gives the family a day to step back and forget abut the illness,” she said.
Young, who also is a member of the Mariner marching band said any items that are not sold during the yard sale will be donated to the Silver Magic Marching Band for their fund-raising event.
The yard sale will be held on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. at 5336 S.W. 11th Place.
For more information about Candlelighters visit www.CandlelightersSWFL.org.