The best laid plans of mice and men…Wouldn’t you know? The forecast for rain was right on the button. Our first ever, big fund-raiser, Giant Yard Sale was forced inside. Plans and donations were high…the best spot, next to the road near the Library was to be ours. Oh, well…into the Town Hall we went, unloading our wares onto long tables and utilizing the whole top floor. Despite the rain, our spirits soared as volunteers started appearing at 7 a.m.(most had been loading up since 6) and customers arrived shortly after.

Our Chairpersons, Ellie Kelly and Betty Harvey, along with fourteen other angels, set up folding tables and manned cash boxes while helping people unload. Ron Getchell, Ed and Barbara Perreault shlepped all day, moving furniture and large items until 2 p.m. closing. Peg and Dick Harris maintained good humor while helping folks mark and arrange items…all the while wheeling and dealing. Charlie Rodway and his father-in-law came back and forth with items. Jackie Misenheimer brought home-grown, beautifully potted plants to sell, at the same time courteously helping prospective customers. Marilyn and Rich Sidle stayed all day bringing delicious whoopie pies to sell, and sell they did! Marion LaFlamme brought kids’clothes and strollers and worked the crowds. Ed Hinkley set up a table and began sales of our first shipment of TLIA t-shirts and caps! He did a great job, selling about half of our first shipment and netting us about $200. Mike Shapiro provided carpenters’ aprons for all our salespeople and enjoyed kibitzing with customers while testing out Ron Getchell’s platform rocker.

All in all it was a decent day. Cameraderie prevailed and those who worked had a good time. We cleared about $300 from Yard Sale merchandise, donating $35 to the Ricker Library. The remainder of the items were given to the Poland Community Church. Linda Laskey, who chairs their thrift shop, thanked us profusely. She’d also provided signs to advertise our Sale.

These activities are all for raising needed, matching monies for Project 319. We have $5,000 to repay over the next 1 and1/2 years; this was our kick-off event. There will be more events in the future, more opportunities to get involved. Please don’t hesitate to join in. We welcome new faces and need new ideas.

A million thanks to all of you who helped… I sincerely appreciate it.