Kids’ Marketplace at the Beaches Recreation Centre will help raise funds for Red Door Family Shelter

By GEORGIA LOOMAN

Eight-year-old Aahana Khazanchi-Wayne is confident in her two businesses: Into the ToysVerse, where she sells old toys; and Cheers for Chai, her line of herbal teas that she proudly taste-tested herself.

Alongside her mother, father and brother, Khazanchi-Wayne will join more than 60 youth vendors at the third annual Kid2Kid’s Kids’ Marketplace on Saturday, May 31, at the Beaches Recreation Centre.

The event will also feature live entertainment, a pop-up Fearless Meat BBQ, and a silent auction. Local band Sugar Rush will be performing alongside dance performances by Abanico Dance. The marketplace will run from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“(It’s) a huge get-together,” said co-organizer Caroline Thomson. “It’s so much fun, there’s a positive vibe and a lot of excitement.”

Thomson and marketplace co-organizer Shah Ruby, are also the co-founders of Kid2Kid. Their goal is to involve children in community initiatives to benefit other children.

“It feels wonderful to have a concept that came out of our imagination and bring it to life. It’s a form of art,” said Ruby. “It’s so satisfying, namely because it enables our future generations to not only learn about entrepreneurship, but more importantly, about kindness and giving back to those in need.”

Vendors will be offering a variety of items, such as snacks, jewelry, toys and apparel at this year’s marketplace.
Thomson said the event allows children a chance to sell their own goods, use their creativity and develop entrepreneurial skills.

The children keep half of their earnings, while the other half will go towards the Red Door Family Shelter, a non-profit charity that provides emergency shelter and support for women, children, refugees and families in crisis.

“(The marketplace) opens people’s eyes to see that not everyone is in the same situation,” said Ruby. “It’s a great learning opportunity about humanity.”

All proceeds from the silent auction at the marketplace will go directly to Kid2Kid’s Got Your Back initiatives, which bring together youth volunteers to pack approximately 100 backpacks or winter totes for children and families at the Red Door Family Shelter.

“Everyone has different circumstances, and it’s a wonderful thing to be able to count on your community to support you if you’re in a less fortunate position,” said Thomson.

This year’s Kids’ Marketplace goal is to raise $24,000 for Red Door. In 2024, the marketplace raised more than $17,000, and $10,000 in 2023.

Thomson said those attending should have cash ready for the youth vendors, but the silent auction accepts both credit and debit payments.

With the Kids’ Marketplace now an annual event, Ruby said she hopes the Beach community continues to come out, rain or shine, to support the youth entrepreneurs and the Red Door Family Shelter.

“I hope people take away that it’s a kind world and that we can directly be part of making it even better,” she said.

For more information about Kid2Kid and the Kids’ Marketplace on May 31, please go to https://www.kid2kid.ca/