Troop 79 Community Rummage Sale

Saturday, August 29, Northwoods Parking Lot

Troop 79 is planning a large community rummage sale to raise money for troop programs, camping, equipment and activities. We are inviting troop families, friends, neighbors and members of the community to donate useful items they no longer need.

This will be a major troop-wide project, and its success will depend on everyone helping with donations, promotion, setup, staffing and cleanup.

Our Goal

Our goal is to raise approximately $5,000 or more for Troop 79.

A successful sale could help support:

• Camping trips and outdoor activities
• Troop equipment and supplies
• Advancement and leadership programs
• Financial assistance for Scouts
• Future troop events and special opportunities

The more high-quality donations we receive, and the more people that attend, the more successful the sale will be.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for clean, useful, complete and saleable items in good condition. Popular rummage-sale items include:

• Bicycles and sporting goods
• Tools and lawn or garden equipment
• Camping and outdoor gear
• Toys, games and LEGO
• Books, puzzles, movies and music
• Kitchenware and small appliances
• Home décor and household goods
• Lamps and small furniture
• Electronics that are current and working
• Brand name clothing, shoes and accessories
• Collectibles and hobby items
• School, office and craft supplies

Items should be clean and ready to sell. Electronics and appliances should be tested whenever possible.

Items We Cannot Accept

Please do not donate items that are broken, dirty, unsafe, incomplete or unlikely to sell. We cannot accept:

• Mattresses or box springs
• Cribs, car seats or other used child-safety equipment
• Paint, chemicals, fuel, propane tanks or hazardous materials
• Tires, automotive batteries or automotive fluids
• Firearms, ammunition or other weapons
• Old tube televisions or console televisions
• Broken appliances or electronics
• Large exercise machines
• Used medical equipment
• Opened toiletries, cosmetics or personal-care products
• Moldy, stained, wet, smoke-damaged or pet-soiled items
• Recalled products
• Furniture with major damage or missing parts

The troop reserves the right to decline donations that cannot be safely or reasonably sold. Please remember that anything left after the sale must be donated, recycled or discarded. Unusable donations create additional work and disposal costs for the troop.

What We Need From Scout Families

Donate

Begin setting aside quality items now. Ask relatives, friends, neighbors and coworkers whether they have items they would like to contribute. Please focus on items that you would feel comfortable purchasing yourself.

Help Collect Donations

Families may be asked to help transport donations from homes to Northwoods. Scouts and adults with trucks, vans or trailers will be especially helpful. Do not collect large furniture or unusually heavy items without first confirming that the troop can accept and transport them.

Promote the Sale

We need every family to help spread the word. Please share the sale through:

• Neighborhood social-media groups
• Facebook and community pages
• School, church and workplace networks
• Friends, relatives and neighbors
• Yard signs and printed flyers
• Email and text-message groups

Strong attendance will be just as important as the volume of donations.

Volunteer

We will need Scouts and adults to help with:

• Receiving and sorting donations
• Testing and cleaning merchandise
• Pricing items
• Setting up tables and displays
• Directing traffic and parking
• Staffing sales areas
• Helping customers
• Running checkout stations
• Carrying larger purchases
• Selling food and beverages
• Packing remaining donations
• Cleaning the parking lot after the sale

Volunteer shifts and specific assignments will be announced before the event. Scouts should expect this to be a hands-on service and fundraising project. Adult supervision will be required throughout the event.

How Items Will Be Priced

Most items will be priced to sell quickly. Our goal is to move a large amount of merchandise during one day, not to hold out for the highest possible price on every item.

Higher-value items may be researched and priced individually. Please notify the sale organizers when donating anything that may be valuable, collectible or unusual.

Unless specifically arranged in advance, all donated items become the property of Troop 79 and will not be returned after the sale.

What Happens to Unsold Items?

We will work with local charitable organizations to donate as many acceptable leftovers as possible. Goodwill, St. Vincent, and ReStore will be contacted. Different charities accept different types of merchandise, and they may reject items that are damaged, dirty, incomplete or not suitable for resale. Some remaining items may need to be recycled or discarded.

Careful screening before the sale will help us minimize waste and disposal costs.

How We Can Reach Our Goal

A successful sale will require more than a few families cleaning out their basements. We need the entire troop to participate.

If every Scout family:

• Donates several boxes of good merchandise
• Finds additional donations from friends and neighbors
• Promotes the sale to their community
• Volunteers before, during and after the event

we will have the inventory, attendance and workforce needed to make this one of Troop 79’s largest fundraisers.

Save the Date

Troop 79 Community Rummage Sale Saturday, August 29 Northwoods Parking Lot

Additional information about donation dates, volunteer shifts, item drop-off and sale hours will be announced soon.

Thank you for helping make this a successful community event and an important fundraiser for Troop 79.

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