Today was a day that just kept on giving. It was Austin's school's 1st annual fundraising yard sale. Unfortunately, it was organized by a dad - not that his ideas weren't great, not that he didn't work really hard but thinking through all the steps needed did not enter his mind. It would just work out. Hence, when our PTA executive board showed up to help tag incoming donations, we realized that even though he said he didn't need our help - as we looked around, there were very few other volunteers besides the 5 of us! So after 3 1/2 hours of sorting and unpacking a practically filled cafeteria, there was still much to be done. Today, the yard sale started at 9, again the same group showed up at 7 a.m. to start moving everything from the inside of the school to the outside, setup tables and putting items out. After 2 hours, maybe half was out - there is only so much 5 or 6 people can do. So the day began with a bad taste in our mouths on how this was going to turn out. We were standing out in freezing weather, frozen toes and legs for 7 hours....but when it was over, I couldn't help but be enlightened by amazing things that had actually come out of a simple yard sale. Guerilla goodness was all over the place and people thinking of others. I was in charge of the clothing - tons and TONS of donated clothes!
A woman started buying lots of stuff, when I inquired if she was looking for anything particular, she said she was buying to donate - for a preschool in a very terrible part of DC where the children go without. She bought LOTS and when I was adding stuff up - I just told her a lump sum, much lower than if she paid for it individually. She thanked me and went on her way. Everyone wants a deal at a yard sale.
The next lady asked me if at the end of the day, would we be willing to work a deal on whatever is left over. She bought some things at the going price and left. Then lady #1 came back to say thank you to me, that my good deed of giving her a deal was continuing to give, as she was now going to help someone at the yard sale who ran out of gas. Apparently, her family use to own a gas station near by but sold it years ago, she took the other person there, the owner recognized her and gave them gas and a container! When she came back, I was feeling moved and as she stopped for a hot dog at our food stand, I told her to come back, fill a bag at no cost. She filled a large bag (trust me, it didn't even make a dent in the piles of children's clothes) plus I gave her a bag of socks - she was so gracious.
Another lady approached me to inquire about a lego set I had purchased at the sale, she saw it sitting with the sold sign and wanted to know if I really had my heart set on this viking lego set or would I be willing to trade another set she had for this one. I thought it odd, turns out she was kind of an adult lego lover. She actually went home, came back with 3 complete sets for me to choose from. I chose a Batman set that I knew Austin would love. As for the Viking set, I bought it for $5 and didn't care what the theme was, Austin would just love all the parts. After she gave me the Batman set, she also handed me another small set. I declined but she insisted that I take both, she had assembled both already and had been searching for a Viking set. THEN later, she appeared again, I figured she wanted to trade back again, since the box I originally bought was all beat up and no clue if all the pieces were there. Instead, she handed me a huge box of a Castle and Knights lego set. She just said, here - give this to your son too. I was stunned, I told her no, that it totally wasn't necessary and to please keep it. Again she insisted and just walked away. I couldn't believe it! Just one of the sets was worth more than the one I traded her. But I guess the fact it was a set she really wanted, was what mattered most. Austin was beyond thrilled.
Then lady #2 came back near the end of the sale, she was willing to take as much off our hands to send to a school for the poor -maybe it was true, maybe not, but she seemed quite sincere. She filled 2 large boxes, just $5 each - it was worth every penny since we now didn't have to pack it all up to turn around and donate to the local thrift store. So it was a win-win for both of us. Later on, a man was buying a childs bicycle when a lady with a young son walked up to inquire about it. In turn, as he was handing over his money, took it back and let the other lady buy it. We still had tons of women's clothing left, we decided to send all the summer clothes to a women's shelter that our PTA President passes on her way to work in DC every day, the other to a Christian organization. And yes, there is more, every school, no matter what neighborhood you live in has those in need. As we were cleaning up, I spotted our school secretary, I had remembered last year they had asked for coats to be donated for students in need. I asked her if they needed anything else. Sure enough, they needed lots of pants and tops for boys and girls that have accidents or get sick on their clothes at school. With 740 students, our school nurse caters to many. The school nurse keeps a supply for those type of emergencies. We were able to pull out at least 20 or more jeans and pants, tons of shirts and lots of practically new winter coats. The PTA then gave the nurse money to purchase much needed extra underwear in all sizes for boys and girls. It felt really good that we had touched so many different avenues out of just one yard sale. All this giving just kept on giving out of so many generous donations - that families didn't want or had no use. If our very unorganized but creative dad hadn't come up with this idea - so many lives wouldn't have been touched today. Guerrilla Goodness is wonderful - isn't it!! http://www.kindnessgirl.com/ (then click on the picture under Guerrilla Goodness on the sidebar) p.s. we also made over $2,300 for the PTA on top of it all!
No comments:
Post a Comment