Declutter now and prepare to find treasure at the 4-H garage sale

Maria Flora, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·2 min read

Sep. 29—Now is the time for a deep dive into closets and garages, attics and barns to declutter ahead of winter.

The seventh annual Boone County 4-H Garage Sale needs donations of all sorts of household goods, sports gear, and oddities. And someone will cherish last season's purse, the scented candles, kitchen wares and sports gear stuffed into storage units around town.

Buyers can mostly set their own prices through free-will offerings.

"Only the really big-ticket items are priced," organizer Regan Herr said. "Ninty percent of it isn't. And all the money goes back to the 4-H program. All the unsold items get donated to local charities. We accept furniture, clothing, shoes, accessories, kitchen items, décor, household items, gardening and outdoor items, sporting goods, and more."

Last year's donations included a 1925 Ukelin, a vintage working Singer sewing machine, and an collectible trunk in excellent condition. Three businesses brought office furniture and fixtures.

Past donations have included a saddle, outdoor furniture, bowling balls, snow skis, antique dishes and furniture, and collector dolls in original boxes. There once was even a large, elaborate model train set that an enthusiast happy snatched up on the first day of the garage sale.

Walmart normally donates an entire pallet of unused merchandise, such as hoodies and sweatpants.

Many goods are new and in their original packaging.

Families have donated entire households of furniture, clothes, craft supplies and more after a loved one has passed or once they've downsized. They've also donated a loved one's Hallmark Christmas ornaments and other collections.

Donations will be accepted in the REMC Hall at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds from 2-8 p.m. Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 2, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

Leftover goods are a windfall for about 20 area non-profit agencies and missions. Last year, remaining items were donated to The Talent Factory, Black Box Theater, So Big Mountain House, Live for Life/New Beginnings, My Brother's Keeper, Support the Girls, Changing Footprints, Habitat for Humanity/Restore, Thrifty Threads/Julian Center, Salvation Army, Millie's Thrift Store that supports Catholic schools, Trinity Missions/Lost then Found, and the Indy Book Project.

Proceeds go into the 4-H general fund, which supports everything from facility upkeep to fairgrounds maintenance. Last year's auction earned about $13,500, compared to the previous year's $5,000.

Like the fair, admission to the garage sale is free. The sale runs from 4-8 p.m. Oct. 5; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 6; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 7; and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 in the REMC Hall at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds in Lebanon.