JANICE EVELYN: Idea #4 - DeClutter For a Cause

Admit it.

You KNOW you have to clean out your closet at some point. It's the nagging thought at the back of your mind, the permanent point on your To Do list that never seems to get crossed off, the culprit behind the mad dash around the bedroom every morning because you can't seem to find anything suitable to wear to work. Again.

Now's the time. Those of you who fancy yourselves to be the Kings and Queens of Efficient Multitasking, listen up: on On Saturday, May 11th^th 2013, Royal LePage offices across Canada will be transformed into an oasis for bargain hunters as we join together to host the 5^th Annual National Garage Sale for Shelter in support of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation.

This annual event brings local residents together with Royal LePage Realtors® to raise much-needed funds and awareness to help break the cycle of family violence. One hundred percent of all funds raised at every Royal LePage National Garage Sale for Shelter goes to support local women’s shelter, and fund long-term solutions to end family violence.

Take a look at these startling statistics:

· Half of all women in Canada have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.

· On average, every six days a woman in Canada is killed by her intimate partner.

· 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence each year.

Since 2009, the Royal LePage National Garage Sale for Shelter has raised more than $850,000, one quarter and loonie at a time. The community is encouraged to take part by donating gently used items to our office located at your nearest Royal LePage location (call ahead for larger items) , helping us spread the word, and joining us on May 11th. With the support of local residents and the generous sponsorship of TD Canada Trust Mobile Mortgage Specialists, Atlas Van Lines Canada and Advance Commission Company of Canada, this year we’ll raise more money than ever before to help 30,000 women and children across Canada.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE ROYAL LEPAGE SHELTER FOUNDATION:

The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation is Canada’s largest public foundation dedicated exclusively to supporting women’s shelters and ending violence against women and children. Through agent commission donations and the fundraising activities of the Royal LePage network, we have raised over $12 million to help provide a safe haven and new beginnings to more than 30,000 women and children each year. To break the cycle of violence, the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation also supports long-term violence prevention and education programs. All funds raised by Royal LePage offices remain in their local community and because Royal LePage pays any administrative costs, 100 percent of all money and

effort goes toward this important cause. For more information on the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, visit www.royallepage.ca/shelter

Alright! So now you have a worthy incentive.

You' can clean out your closets, storage areas and garages and donate all that good stuff that you've been hoarding away to the garage sale ( Just contact your closest Royal LePage office for drop off locations) and help a REALLY GOOD CAUSE.

The tie has come, Procrastinators! Roll up your sleeves, grab a box or a bag, slip into a Haz-Mat suit if need be and get cleaning. Who knew that cleaning out a closet can actually help save lives? It can, and YOU can be part of it.

Make sure you stop by the garage sale site eon May 11th to show your support. A lot of the events feature raffles, hot dog BBQ's and various other fundraising offers. Check it out!

We had an awesome sale last year, here's a few pics some of the local volunteer realtors took of the day ;)