Growing Acceptance: Amanda’s Plant Sale at Weston YMCA Raises Funds and Awareness for GiGi’s Playhouse!
Volunteer Amanda, and YMCA Employee, recently hosted a successful plant sale for members and the community at the Weston YMCA. It brought in a significant monetary donation, AND helped spread GiGi’s message of ACCEPTANCE just in time for World Down Syndrome Day!
Tell us a little bit about your plant sale: I got the idea of having a small plant sale last year from my friend Sarah, who has a much better green thumb than I do! We recycled jars and started rooting baby plants from the house plants we already had. Last year, the sale collected $233 for GiGi’s. This year I wanted to expand the sale and do it bigger and better! I decided to make some Spring crafts to also set out in the sale, and my friend Sarah once again helped me with the planting. This year I included an eye catching window display and made sure to have information on how members could get involved at GiGi’s.
How did you pick the Aspirus YMCA for your plant sale location? I have worked at the Weston YMCA in MiniCare for the past three years. When I ran my plant sale idea past Tyler Leiskau, Assistant Program Director, he was all for it as he too has a passion for working with people who have special needs.His front desk team was supportive throughout, collecting cash from the sale and also answering questions about GiGi’s.
How much money was donated through the sale? With a last minute donation during clean up, the sale brought in $405 all in which was donated to the playhouse! How do you think this sale impacted the community?
The YMCA gets a LOT of foot traffic and the sale was placed right inside the front doors. Not only did YMCA members pass it every time they came in for the work out, but families that came in for daycare or therapy also saw it daily too. The front desk members told me that nearly every person stopped to at least check it out. The window posters displayed Down syndrome facts with pictures of our Wausau participants teaching the community that really we are all more a like than we are different. I hope by the community reading more about DS and the playhouse, they will be more likely to show love and acceptance when they encounter individuals with disabilities in the future.
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