Garage sale proceeds benefit orphanage

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

The sale will end Sunday afternoon.

HUBBARD — It’s garage sale and yard sale season, but the cause behind one weekend garage sale sets it apart from the others.

Katie and Sam Costello have filled half of the four-car garage at their home at 7985 E. Liberty St. with items that many avid garage sale visitors might find tempting. Katie Costello said the sale kicked off Thursday with everything from housewares and antiques to clothes and bedding.

“It’s just one-stop shopping here,” said Costello.

The garage sale will end at 5 p.m. Sunday, and then the money earned will make its way into the hands of some very needy children on the other side of the world.

The Costellos plan to donate all proceeds to an orphanage in Vladivostok, Russia. The orphanage, and the young people living there, hold a special place in the hearts of the Costello family.

“My husband and I went to Vladivostok, and we adopted a little girl in March. Our travel mates from Oklahoma adopted a little boy and we all decided to have garage sales on the same weekend, then send the money to that orphanage,” said Costello.

The two couples decided to compete to see who could raise the most money for the orphanage.

The Costellos spent more than a month in Russia completing paperwork and other particulars related to the adoption and observed a definite need for supplies for the children and repairs to the facility. Katie Costello said the children were wearing old clothes and ate mostly soup.

According to Costello, the children receive little formal education, making their outlook for the future grim. She said many of the children end up in undesirable occupations or the sex trade once they become adults and leave the orphanage.

Costello said the initial goal was to raise about $400, but by the midway point of the first day there was more than $500 in the collection can. Now, she wants to raise as much as possible and says the sky is the limit.

Once the sale ends and the Costellos combine their money with the Oklahoma family, it will be sent to the orphanage with specific instructions.

“What we are doing is working with our facilitator, who works for European Adoption Consultants in Cleveland, and she will oversee that money being spent how we want it spent at the orphanage,” said Costello. “I definitely want to see new clothes for the kids and food that is nutritional.”

Costello said if any money is left over after clothes and food, she would ask that minor repairs be made to the facility.

Costello said those who don’t need any items on display can still come by and make a donation, participate in the 50/50 raffle or buy some lemonade and brownies. Every little bit helps, she said.

“We are just going to do what we can do. There is definitely a need,” she said.

jgoodwin@vindy.com