It's the last weekend the big white tent will stand over Abram and Shirley Banman's front yard in Winkler.

The Banman's have pitched the temporary pavilion for six years to raise money for an orphanage in Kenya which, among other things, helps youth attend school.

"In Kenya, after grade eight, you can't go to school because you have to pay for yourself," explained Mr. Banman.

It takes around $600 for one student to attend school for one year, and the children living in the town of Maua, where drugs are prevalent, have no money of their own.

Now the generous couple is looking for new ways to support the orphanage as the garage sale has become too much work.

The first year the Banman's held the garage sale, they raised $3,000. Last year, more than $18,000 came in.

"Every year it's grown," said Mrs. Banman. Mr. Banman estimated they've raised $35,000 which would send around 60 children to school.

"People in Southern Manitoba are so incredibly generous, they're behind this because the kids get to know about Jesus, and study his word," said Mrs. Banman.

"They're just like our kids here, they want to be doctors, they want to be lawyers, and this gives them a chance," Mr. Banman added.

 

With more items than the Banman's can count, they hope to raise enough money to send young Kenyan orphans to school.

This will be the last year for the Kenyan garage sale, an annual event for the past six years.