Garage sale aids Kenyan community

Larni Simpson with her colourful balloon people.

Instead of splashing around in puddles, riding her bike or going to the movies with friends, nine-year-old Larni Simpson from Uralba spent her school holidays making balloon people to raise money for the Nyandiwa community in West Kenya.

Helped out in her little venture by brother Sam, mum Julie and dad Warren, the resident ‘face artist’, Larni will be selling her balloon people for $2 each at the Lismore Baptist Church Monster Garage Sale this Saturday, October 16.

The idea to hold the garage sale came after the Lismore Baptist Church hosted a visit by Pastor Joel Kopere from the Nyandiwa community.

“It all spouted from his visit to the church – he spoke at our Sunday church service and explained what the needs are in his community,” organiser Leanne Hall said. “He explained what life was like in his community and he has since sent us photos of what life was like.”

Leanne said money raised from the garage sale would go a long way in this poor African village.

“For instance, one of the things the money will go toward is housing for widows. There’s no social security in Kenya and if a woman loses her husband, the family home is often passed to a male relative, and she could have four children, so how does she survive? One of the things the money will go to is providing housing for these women to live in. It costs approximately $600 to build a house, and it made us realise just how far our money can go in a place like Africa. Pastor Joel has already raised enough for four houses but more are needed and they also need money to help educate orphaned children and buy medical supplies for the community.”

The Lismore Baptist Church Monster Garage Sale will run from 7am to 2pm and features a range of stalls, cakes and slice, a BBQ and café, plus a jumping castle for kids.

The Lismore Baptist Church is located on the corner of Uralba Street and Rotary Drive.