43
Angels for Animals stages giant garage sale this weekend
By LINDA M. LINONIS
canfield
Donations from two estates, one in Canton and another in Cornersburg, have increased dramatically the array of items for this week’s 19th annual Angels for Animals garage sale.
Diane Less, founder of Angels for Animals, said the two estates, donated by animal lovers, have accounted for at least “40 percent more stuff this year.”
In January 2012, Angels was contacted by a woman from Canton who wished to donate her estate. The advance notice gave Angels time to prepare to handle the massive task. Less said the Canton estate yielded 16 van loads plus a moving van.
“There’s lots and lots of nice items including plus-size clothing,” Less said.
Less said she and Angels representatives met with the terminally ill woman before her death last November to make sure her wishes were carried out. Less adopted the woman’s cat, Precious, who is deaf and blind.
The Cornersburg estate also came from an animal lover who has been a faithful donor to Angels for 15 years, Less said. “We knew for a long time she was making the donation,” Less said. It yielded a full moving van and a few carloads.
The estates, known as legacy donations, have contributed so many items that the Angels sale has expanded from the usual three to four buildings.
Less said the main building will offer household and kitchen items, glassware, books, CDs, videos and artwork. “I’ve never seen so much artwork ... prints, paintings, photos and just frames,” she said.
Another building is for clothes and textiles with a special section for collectible and antiques. “There’s a number of designer purses and lots of jewelry,” Less said.
Two other buildings house what Less calls “man’s world,” with furniture, outdoor and sports items, gardening supplies and light fixtures. “There’s also a large selection of clocks,” Less added.
Less said customers are all looking for different things, so it’s hard to pinpoint best sellers. There’s clothing for all sizes.
She said it takes 200 volunteers to stage the garage sale. They started weeks ago organizing the estate items; other donations were being accepted through today. “The intense times are the days leading up to the sale," she said. “We have something for everyone.”
Last year, Less said, the sale netted $79,000. Though that’s a lot of money, she said, it covers the $70,000 salary of a staff veterinarian with 10 years’ experience. The overall Angels’ budget is $1 million; services account for $500,000 and fundraisers and donations for the rest. The garage sale is about 8 percent of the budget.
“My goal is to make $100,000 on the sale,” Less said.
Less emphasized Angels’ work is making a difference. She offered these numbers for cats left in the drop-off that is always open. In 2012, some 2,700 cats were surrendered, she said but in 2008, there were 6,500 cats dropped off.
“It’s a phenomenal drop. It shows there a is difference, and people are more aware of spaying and neutering their pets,” she said.
IF YOU GO
Animals for Animals will sponsor its 19th annual garage sale this weekend. The event includes food and raffles. Angels for Animals helps companion animals by sheltering, fostering and education.
When: On Friday, 10 a.m. to noon is early-bird admission for $5, and noon to 7 p.m. is $1; Saturday admission is $1, and hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday is free admission and 50 percent off merchandise from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 3:15 to 5 p.m. is the clearance sale with a $5 for general clearance and $10 for general and antiques.
Where: Canfield Fairgrounds, enter by the main gate off of Route 46 in Canfield.
Items: Books, toys, small appliances, household and gardening items, furniture, glassware, clothing and more.
Donations: Will be accepted from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today. To donate a large item, call 330-549-1111, ext. 330.
On air: The Vindicator’s broadcast news partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, will air a segment on the garage sale on its morning show Friday.