Senior Center Rummage Sale! Fun
and fascinating items July 25
July 15, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
It worked so well the first time they’re going to do it again but this time with even more fun and fascinating items at the Senior Center Rummage Sale!
There will be hundreds of mixed up things to rummage through and buy at the July 25 sale, held in the front parking lot at the Community Center located at the corner of West Main Street and Steckel Drive.
“It’s the second event we’re having,” said Senior Center Coordinator Beverly Ruiz about the sale that last time featured vendors ranging from area nonprofits to individuals looking to sell handcrafted items or other stuff to rummage through.
“Our first Rummage Sale was so successful we decided to do it again…we had planned on 20 vendors but wound up with 28! And we’re thinking about making the Rummage Sale a regular event.”
To boost participation the Senior Center is lowering its prices: “We initially had it at $25 and now we’re charging $20 for nonprofits and everyone else,” and noted Ruiz, “we’re already half-way to being filled up!”
The July 25 Rummage Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Ruiz expects a crowd all day…parking is available at Glen City School and the array of items displayed in each space in the front parking lot is eye-catching.
And the wares, she added, are irresistible: “At our first Rummage Sale I spent more than $200,” purchasing a refrigerator, “two lamps and other stuff…I think I spent more than I made that day working!”
In addition, refreshments such as coffee and cookies will be available for the crowd.
“Everybody was really happy with the turnout at our first Rummage Sale, and they were very happy with their sales…those selling as well as those buying were really excited and wanted to know if we could do this more often because they’d never seen the Community Center hold an event such as this before.”
Aside from the knickknacks, house wares, furniture, clothing, jewelry, plants and other items offered — both new and lovingly used — Ruiz said future Rummage Sales might be expanded: “We’re looking down the line to include a Farmers Market,” to further entice shoppers with fresh produce and other market goodies.
Saturdays, she added, are a “natural…rummage sales are often held on Saturdays,” bringing a crowd relaxing on the weekend with some therapeutic and fun shopping.
Word is getting out: at the June Hawaiian special senior lunch the approximately 200 seniors that attended were told the Rummage Sale would return and will be advertised including on the city’s cable television station Channel 10.
“We’re really hoping to stage a Senior Center Rummage Sale every quarter,” to raise funds for senior programs and activities offered at the center.
“And,” noted Ruiz, “we have some seniors that sell items…it gives them some extra cash.”
Rummage Sales can be very lucrative for vendors but Ruiz admits that it was “Really surprising that every vendor there made $200 to $300, well above what they paid for their space. And we had one local nonprofit that made over $800!”
Each vendor that buys in is assigned an area the size of a parking space.
Ruiz said vendors are encouraged to bring their own table(s) and a popup but if they do not have a table(s) the Senior Center can help.
Ruiz said spaces will are available on a first-come first-serve basis for the Rummage Sale.
“We’ll do anything to help our seniors and the sale helps the community…we’ll do anything to help the seniors!”
Call Ruiz at 933-4226 x 356 to rent a space or for more information.
