Although you don't personally reap the profits from hosting your own garage sale, you'll feel just as good donating your old items to the organization. Hospice of Acadiana has a group of dedicated volunteers who donate their time to sorting, categorizing and pricing all of the goods brought in - the tedious part of every garage sale! Save yourself the trouble, and let the volunteers handle it for you.
Hospice of Acadiana is Acadiana's only nonprofit Hospice, and the annual thrift sale functions as one of their biggest fundraisers, allowing the organization to continue the many services they provide to our community's residents.
This year, the sale is going on from November 4-6 at the Lafayette Event Center. Friday evening, November 4, is the ticket-only preview party. Your ticket gets you in early so you have the pick of the litter. Saturday, November 5, and Sunday, November 6, are open market days for the general public with a nominal entry fee.
And this year on Sunday, the thrift sale is introducing an Artists and Artisans Marketplace, where local craftsmen and artists are invited to sell their goods for a low introductory rate.
Thanks to Kari Walker, Hospice of Acadiana's special events coordinator, I got to take a tour of the holding rooms for all of the donated items, and enjoyed browsing through the many items already brought in. She showed me how well-organized the items are, ranging from the lamps section to the Christmas and Mardi Gras decor, home goods, art, jewelry, small furniture, toys, and games.
"Everything is sorted, and we discard what isn't usable. All of the puzzles and games have all their pieces. We check all electronics to make sure everything works," Kari says.
If you're shopping to furnish an apartment or camp, you'll come across tons of great finds at the Thrift Sale. It's also an opportunity to more inexpensively replace items lost in the flood.
What I think makes the thrift sale unique is the availability of repurposed goods. Some of Hospice of Acadiana's volunteers put a lot of time and effort into reusing and repurposing donated goods into new craft pieces. I absolutely love these aprons made of men's button-down shirts. I might just have to get myself one as a newlywed gift! I mean really. They are so cute! I believe my quote as I was modeling this one was, "Let me leave the top button undone to be sassy!"
The volunteers also repurpose old cups, saucers and vases to make bird feeders and garden totems, which give your garden or yard a very colorful, shabby chic flair.
Items that can't be sold as-is go into a pile for being repurposed. While I was there, one volunteer was hard at work at making a mosaic table top with chipped dinner plates.
When it comes time to check out, Hospice of Acadiana has their system down pat. And they've also got enough plastic bags to hold all your finds. Many of these come from the Albertson's recycling bin, since the grocery store is one parking lot over from the Hospice office. So, if you've ever dropped off plastic bags at the grocery store, you can feel good knowing the bag is being reused.
So, if you want to donate some items, you've still got a few weeks go through your stuff and drop it off to Hospice of Acadiana! And mark your calendars for the big weekend, so you can hunt for some vintage, eco-friendly, and repurposed treasures while helping out one of Acadiana's most valuable nonprofits.
Thanks again for the tour, Kari!
DONATE
Fridays until October 14, 9a.m.-4p.m., or by appointmentHospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Lafayette
ITEMS ACCEPTED
- Baby and Toy items China/Crystal/Collectibles
- Christmas and Mardi Gras Decor
- Garden/Outdoor items
- Home Decor
- Jewelry/Boutique Items
- Kitchen Items
- Small Appliances
- Linens
- Bath Items
- SMALL Furniture Pieces
- Wall Art
ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED
- Clothing of any sort
- Electronics
- Exercise Equipment
- Large or upholstered furniture
- Luggage
- Purses
- Shoes
- Sporting Goods
SHOP
Lafayette Event Center, 4607 Johnston Street, LafayetteENTRY
- Friday's preview party: $25 in advance, $30 at the door
- Saturday: $5
- Sunday: $3
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