Bidding For a Better Future
The sound of an auctioneer’s chant, laughter, frantic bidding, exciting and useful items at bargain prices, what do they all have in common? It is the atmosphere and the sound of Newgate auctions held every Wednesday night at our auction facility at 4 Alliance Blvd, units 2 and 3.in Barrie Ontario. (Located at the corner of St. Vincent and Bell Farm Road). The bidding is building a better future for the Elizabeth Fry Society and the clients we serve.
Since 1988, The Elizabeth Fry Society of Simcoe County has been a community based agency that is best known for their work on behalf of those who are involved with the Criminal Justice System, in particular those in conflict with the law and those perceived to be in conflict with the law.
Since that time it has grown in the services it provides to the community. Did you know that Elizabeth Fry will have provided food from their grocery program to about 9,000 people (65% children) by the end of this year? In partnership with ‘out of the cold’ a warm bed is provided to women who need shelter for the night. A safe and caring environment greets any single or married woman without children who has been abused and is seeking shelter and a protective and safe environment. In past years 350 – 400 women have been served, by August of this year that number was surpassed. Requests for their services grow daily.
The founder, Elizabeth Fry (Gurney) was born into a family of Quakers in 1780 in England. It was fortunate for all concerned that Quakers believed in the equality of women (250 years before they won the vote), otherwise Elizabeth Fry's unusual talents in the area of prison reform might never have been realized. Her insight, persistence, and her willingness to see a 'divine light' in every person resulted in striking reforms taking place regarding the way women and children were treated in London’s Newgate Prison. Part of her ministry involved visiting every ship, taking women convicts and their children to Australia. Every woman was given a bag of useful items, which included 1 oz of pins, 100 needles, 9 balls of thread, 1 pair of scissors. 1 thimble,1 pair of glasses, and 2 pounds of patch work pieces. The things that they made while on these ships were sold upon arrival to pay for food and other items for themselves and their children. This tradition continues today, women at Elizabeth Fry and is encouraged to develop their skills for employment.
The goal of the weekly auction will be to see a ‘divine light’ in every woman and train these women in all aspects of running a small business, including developing skills in inventory control, shipping and receiving, showmanship and salesmanship, creative display and merchandise management, clerking and cashiering for the auction profession, auction administration and customer relationship building.
Sources of funding for this program are currently being explored and developed. In the meantime volunteers are providing the ‘staff’ for the auctions.