Humane Society accepting donations for another really big Route 66 Garage Sale weekend

 

[May 23, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

On Wednesday, the Humane Society of Logan County kicked off their collection time at the Logan County Fairgrounds in preparation for the Route 66 Garage Sales to be held June 7, 8 and 9.

The annual event begins fresh every year with new donations of merchandise that will be sold over the three day period but starts on Thursday evening prior to the garage sales with a special preview night.

By noon on Wednesday the donations were pouring in and the group already had enough to hold a ‘normal’ garage sale. But as those who shop the event each year know, the HSLC garage sale is far from ‘normal.’

Volunteers were busy sorting through merchandise and setting up designated areas for specific types of items.

Things arriving early include some ornamental bird cages, lots of outdoor and indoor décor items, yard ornaments, throw pillows and lamps and much more.

The glassware was also coming in, as were the miscellaneous Christmas decorations, and odds and ends such as yard tools and luggage.

A notable donation for NASCAR fans is a completed collection of NASCAR die-cast model cars. This collection features more than likely more than 100 cars, though they had not been counted yet on Wednesday morning. Each one is in ‘new in box’ condition with some of them still having price tags on the box. Marilyn Wheat picked up one box and noted that it had a $20 price tag on it already. She said she didn’t think she would put that high of price on them for the garage sale, maybe half price to that, she wasn’t sure yet, but even so, for the avid collector, we’re betting that your favorite driver will be in the mix. We saw for certain two Dale Earnhart “3” cars including a gold edition, Petty cars, and at least one Mark Martin.

Volunteers Marilyn Wheat and Judy Conzo work to organize the event each year, but to get everything laid out and priced it takes a large team of volunteers working all over the special events barn at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

The group sells a lot of items such as jewelry and handbags and are always anxious for those donations. The glassware and kids toys are other popular items and we think we spied some Longaberger in the mix.

The annual garage sale is new merchandise every year thanks to local auctioneer Mike Maske. The group will sell, sell, sell during the designated weekend. What is left is then added into a future auction by the popular auctioneers and sold off so that next year once again everything offered will be for the first and only time.

The Thursday night preview night is hugely popular each year, and is definitely the time to go for those avid shoppers who want to get a chance at everything there is available. There is a $5 admission charged on Thursday night only, but with the prices and the product available, that admission is well worth the money for a lot of people.

This year, the HSLC is hosting four collection days. The first was Wednesday, and the next will be this Saturday, May 25th. The last two days will be next week on Wednesday May 29th and on Saturday, June 1st.

Drop off hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the remaining days. If you have a donation but are unable to make it on those days at those hours you may call 217-871-7853 and a volunteer will make arrangements to meet you at the barn.

The group does not take clothing, shoes, or electronics, but other than that, whatever you have, they will put a price tag on it!

The money raised from the garage sale goes to support the HSLC shelter in Lincoln. The no-kill shelter is manned by one paid employee and a lot of dedicated volunteers. The money they raise goes primarily for the care of animals in the shelter.

So, if you have items to get out of your garage or household closet that you no longer need, the HSLC will be thrilled to take them off your hands.

And finally if you haven’t been to a HSLC garage sale, make this the year you pay them a visit. Chances are they will have at least one or two things on their tables that you will want to take home, and the pets waiting for a home will be continue to be cared for.

[Nila Smith]