What began as an inkling of an idea online came to fruition during a 50-home garage sale in Aldergrove this past Saturday.
In spring 2017 Lori Neville was made an administrator an Aldergrove-based Facebook group, Aldergrove Safe Community and Awareness – which currently boasts nearly 7,000 members and has given her the opportunity to volunteer in a different, “more positive” way, she explained.
Along with moderating posts on the group, Neville decided to head up this year’s Aldergrove community-wide garage sale.
Last year, the community-led event encompassed 20 addresses selling second-hand items.
This year Neville started early, in March, and enlisted the help of Aldergrove Business Association president Jodi Steeves.
The two registered nearly 60 homes to sell various goods, including two 32nd Avenue townhouse complexes.
Isaiah Groom and his parents began bright and early, selling items out of their garage on 30A Avenue.
By 12:30 p.m, the Groom family had sold more than $100 of household wares including electronics, decor pieces, and knick-knacks.
“We’ve gotten a lot of traffic from people today which surprised us,” Groom said cheerily.
Residents were encouraged to begin their shopping at the main hub at 9 a.m in the Aldergrove Vineyard Church parking lot, where Steeves gave out detailed maps of addresses participating.
By noon, Steeves and her VIP team had seen more than 200 people come by their booth.
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“We had to reprint 100 more maps after we ran out early this morning,” Steeves said.
“People showed up as early as 7:30 a.m. They got their ‘breakfast,’ map and got going” to hunt for bargains, she said.
Six resident vendors set up shop in the lot, along with tables of handmade offerings.
Steeves managed a lemonade stand run by young locals, where half of proceeds made went to the Aldergrove Food Bank. The other half, the kids got to take home.
Her crew also handed out complimentary doughnuts.
“There’s been a good mix of people coming by, from locals to out-of-towners,” Steeves said.
Each address displayed uniform yellow signs so shoppers were able to spot the sale more easily.
“One gentleman told me he had rock records and household items he sold. Lots of others set up kids toys and puzzles for buyers,” Neville explained.
Neville sold rustic decor items from her wedding, as well as clothes she no longer wears.
As a resident of Aldergrove since summer 2016, Neville cherishes bringing people together.
“I’m all about doing things to make my community stronger,” the organizer said.
The community-wide garage sale was one of the more successful community events Steeves has orchestrated to give back to Aldergrove, she admitted.
The plan is to do the same, just “better” next year, she added.
