Members of Highlands Church may have the answer for people who are searching for Mother's Day gifts: Bring Mom to the annual Highland Flea and let her choose her own gift.
The annual sale is Saturday, May 13, the day before Mother's Day, publicity chair Lori Pinkerton said.
The sale is held inside, so it goes on no matter the weather. Now in its 23rd year, the sale has been growing, she said. Everything the church sells is donated, but there are also booths set up in the parking lots for people to sell their own items. Neighbors also get into the spirit and set up their own garage sales in the neighborhood around the church, she said. Garage salers can make a day of it. Every year is different, Pinkerton said. If there's one constant, it's that there's usually a lot of jewelry.
"We women love jewelry and we have to make room for more jewelry," she explained. It's always cleaned and displayed in it's own area. This year there may be more furniture than usual. A member of the congregation died recently and her family decided to donate most of the contents of her home to the sale. That includes furniture, crystal and brand new linens, she said. There will also be outside furniture, lawn mowers and collectibles.
Because customers arrive early in the morning, there will be coffee and pastries available and a bake sale will be going on.
"We try to take care of our customers," Pinkerton said. "The Flea is an opportunity to meet and greet and have fun and that's what I love about the people out here. It's more than just the money."
The workers have a friendly rivalry about which department will make the most money. Can the bake sale out sell the jewelry? Or will furniture reach the top?
When it's over, the United Methodist Women, the sponsoring club, donates the money to local charities that serve women and children.
General News on 04/19/2017