Bids Open for Tumaini Children's Foundation Online Auction

Monday, 14 November 2022 at 06:19

By Marcie Culbert

Photo Credit: @tumiani_means_hope Instagram page - Tumaini Childrens Foundation

The Tumaini Children's Foundation is hosting its annual pre-Christmas online auction, to help raise money for its children's home in Tanzania.

OXFORD/NORFOLK - The Tumaini Children's Foundation has launched its annual pre-Christmas online auction.

Executive Director Leslie Butler says all of the money raised will benefit their children's home in Tanzania, where they are currently housing 55 children.

"Those are children who are very needy and orphaned. They live with us and we are their family and their support system. We provide for them a safe home, healthcare, good food, access to education, and most importantly the love of family to help them to be successful in their young lives and grow to become adults who give back and uplift their community."

The online auction usually raises about $10,000. Butler says this may seem like a lot of money, but it gets spent pretty quickly in Tanzania.

"We go to the market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables for our children for at a cost of about $500 Canadian a month. That of course does not include our milk, meat, and other staples that are not in the category of fresh food in market. Raising 55 children and providing education, healthcare and a home for them is a very big endeavor for us. We really appreciate all of our sponsors and those people who support us in a variety of ways to make sure that those beautiful young people are successful."

The pre-Christmas online auction launched on Friday November 4th and it will officially close at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday November 19th. Some of the auction items include kitchen items, gift baskets, and a sunset sail out of Port Dover. You can check out the items and submit your bids online here.

The Tumaini Children's Foundation started back in 2009, when co-founder Cherie Tiffin-Szucs travelled to Tanzania and met her co-founder Oddo Ndonde. Butler met Szucs back in 2012 and became very close friends with her before she passed away from ambulatory cancer in 2021. From there, Butler carried on her legacy and now serves as the Executive Director.

You can find more information regarding the Tumaini Children's Foundation online here.