CORNWALL, Ontario – More than 200 Cornwall children have been clothed in warm snowsuits this year thanks to a promise made years ago by a man who left a legacy of giving.
The Dave Paupst Snowsuit Fund was started three years ago by the late Cornwall man’s wife and daughter who have held fundraisers and collected warm winter clothing for the less-fortunate.
The seeds of the program were sewn when Paupst, who succumbed to a brain aneurysm in August of 2010, coached novice hockey and helped out young children in sports.
“So we continued his legacy with children using snowsuits,” said Amanda Gaucher, who along with her mother Nancy Paupst run the program. “My dad later said no kid would be cold.”
Dave donated to snowsuit funds before his passing, and then his wife and daughter began their own program following his death.
“I’m kind of getting used to it now,” said Gaucher with a laugh. “At the beginning if someone gave us $100 we were both crying.”
While some 200 young people, mostly through the Children’s Aid Society, have been clothed with a new snowsuit, donations are still being accepted – especially now that the cold weather is upon us.
“We do this all year,” said Gaucher, who can be reached via email at ap_gerbra@hotmail.com for information on donating a snowsuit.
The program has received help from local businesses like Mille Roches Construction, Bank of Nova Scotia, Floral Expressions, Dairy Queen, Tim Hortons, City Limits and Dreamland to help drum up funds.
Events like bake sales, barbecues and live entertainment have been held in the past.
If you’re looking for a snowsuit for a young person contact the Children’s Aid Society of SD and G.
