The Carrollwood News & Tribune
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Annual Event Is A Big Deal
CANDACE C. MUNDY/TAMPA TRIBUNE
Val Burris, Phyllis Hoedt, Lea Griffin and Pat Serio sort and categorize some of the thousands of items that will be for sale during the Big Yard Sale sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O' Lakes Woman's Club. The annual event will be held at the Old Lutz School Building, 18819 US Hwy. 41 N from 8 am till 2 pm March 7th and 8th.
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Published: March 5, 2008
LUTZ - When shoppers converge on a flea market at the Old Lutz School House Friday morning, they will be partaking in an annual tradition that goes back a quarter-century.
Bargain-hunters may peruse thousands of items in four rooms in the school, and furniture, plants, blue jeans and refreshments will be sold outdoors.
The sale is an annual fundraiser for the GFWC Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club - which has its hand in a number of community projects and financially supports dozens of community groups.
The sale is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a half-price sale during the same hours March 15.
What isn't sold at the sale goes to community causes, said members of the woman's club, who were preparing for the sale recently at the schoolhouse.
To get ready, they sort through boxes, bags and truckloads of stuff coming in for the sale. They hang clothes. Arrange dishes. Primp stuffed animals. Price kitchen wares. Shelve books.
That's just a glimpse of what it takes to put on the event, said Barbara Nicholson, club president.
"There's a lot of work behind the scenes," she said. "People go to garage sales and ask for garage sale leftovers."
They also hit up family members for things they don't need.
"Today, I brought in some from my daughter, one of my sons, my granddaughter," Nicholson said.
Sorting through apparel is perhaps the biggest chore, she said.
"There's so much clothing that comes in. We mark each item. It's very time-consuming to do that."
Volunteers began collecting donations about a month ago, spending two mornings a week for about four hours each time, going through the items and pricing them.
Knowing what to charge comes with experience, Nicholson said. "Through the years, we kind of learned what people will pay."
There will be plenty of bargains: Drinking glasses for a dime each; a pair of pruners for a quarter; fancy linens for a dollar; a pottery bowl for two bucks.
But the woman's club could use more donations, said Pat Serio, a club member.
"We need whatever the community can give us," Serio said. Even though thousands of items have come in, it is much less than last year.
The club welcomes furniture, clothing, household goods, collectibles and vintage items and asks that they be clean and in good working order, Serio said. Volunteers will be accepting the goods from 9 a.m. until noon today and Thursday.
Electronics are not accepted because they are too difficult to dispose of if they are not sold, said club member Phyllis Hoedt, whose husband, William, also helps at the woman's club sale.
The club aims to offer deals patrons can't refuse, Serio said. "We try to be very reasonable."
If items were donated from a garage sale, they use the previous price as a gauge, said Marilyn Bedke, another club member. "If it didn't go at somebody's garage sale for $1, we'll put 50 cents on it," she said.
The annual event grew out of a silent auction the club used to have among its members, Phyllis Hoedt recalled. They decided it made more sense to make it a community sale so they could raise more money and help more people, she said.
"It's a lot of work, but it's very worthwhile," Bedke said.
"It's fulfilling for us," said club member Val Burris, while she sorted through books. Hardbacks will go for 50 cents each, paperbacks for a quarter and children's books for a dime.
"At the end of the sale, we divide up the leftovers," Serio said.
Extra children's books go to coin laundries in Land O'Lakes and Lutz, where families may take them home.
"We send the clothing to the abuse shelters. We send books to nursing homes. Eye glasses to the Lions Club (International). Miscellaneous bath mats and towels - they go to the humane society," Serio said.
The sale has become such a tradition, it has developed a following, Serio said.
"We have repeat customers every year. We always have dealers on the first day," she said.
Verna Johnson, who has been pitching in for about 10 years, said: "This is a good opportunity to give to a lot of people. All of this money goes to many, many organizations."
It's also fun, said Frances Law.
"We just like to be with each other. It's great to be with a big bunch of people."
WOMAN'S CLUB FLEA MARKET
WHAT: Rummage sale. Hot dogs, sweets, cold drinks and other refreshments will be sold.
WHEN: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday and Saturday; half-price sale, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. March 15
WHERE: Old Lutz School House, 18819 U.S. 41 N., Lutz (U.S. 41 and Fourth Avenue S.E. )
WHO: Sponsored by the GFWC Lutz-Land O'Lakes Woman's Club
INFORMATION: Call (813) 833-8413 or (813) 785-8095
CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED
Household goods, clothing, furniture and other items will be accepted from 9 a.m. until noon today and Thursday at the Old Lutz School House, 18819 U.S. 41 N., in historical downtown Lutz. No electronics will be accepted.
Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.
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