Thousands of treasures will be ripe for the picking at the Mighty Metchosin garage sale.
Jim Challenger, with the Metchosin Community Association, has his donations ready – including an ironing board he picked up from the sale a few years ago.
The MCA is accepting donations starting Friday, May 18 until May 25.
When sorting though the donations there are two special categories.
Higher-end items are sold through a silent auction. In previous years, the silent auction has included items such as antique furniture, beautiful dish sets and even an entire Barbie doll collection.
And there is the white elephant section.
“Sometimes we get stuff we can’t figure out what it is,” Challenger said. “Then it goes in the white elephant.”
Metchosin preschool is having a toy sale and the Metchosin Pioneer Museum is hosting a book sale, both on the municipal grounds coinciding with the Mighty Metchosin garage sale.
Each year, the sale brings in up to $15,000 for the community association.
“The MCA helps maintain the (community) house and subsidize programs,” Challenger said, explaining events cover operational costs for the MCA. “As much as this is a fundraiser, it’s turned into a community event.”
While people go to garage sales expecting to barter down the price, the opposite often occurs at this sale.
“Here we have people who bargain up the price,” Challenger said, explaining that customers will pay $5 for a $1 item.
All donations are appreciated, but there some items that are not accepted, including car seats, cribs, exercise equipment and pillows.
Donations can be dropped off at the tents beside the community house, 4430 Happy Valley Rd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The garage sale is on May 26 and 27 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
