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Unusual items often donated as part of annual rummage
RANDOLPH – An estimated 10,000 items will be donated for the annual rummage sale to benefit the Lied Randolph Public Library each spring, and sometimes the sorting and pricing can become a game of “What is That?”
It’s a treasure trove of nearly anything and everything that comes through the doors of the Randolph City Auditorium for the sale each spring.
“I always enjoy when we find something we don’t know what it is and then make stuff up about what it might be,” said Suz Gubbels. Suz and her husband, Jeff, are just two of the three dozen volunteers who sort, stack, and display the thousands of rummage items for the sale each year.
Volunteers have their work cut out for them, but the event is more fun than work, Gubbels said.
“I always enjoy when we find something we don’t know what it is and then make stuff up about what it might be,” Suz said, a classic game of “What is That?” that can help occupy volunteer’s minds as they sort.
From vintage Wheaties cereal boxes, a locomotive builder’s plate found in a box of tools, and hundreds of Beanie Babies to collections of glassware and antique board games, there’s always something unusual that gets donated each year.
Volunteers and Library Director Peggy Leiting accept the thousands of items and see them turn into cash right before their eyes, with most items at $2 each. Last year’s rummage brought in more than $7,000 to boost the library. Thanks to Debra Wiese who has applied for Thrivent grants to help with expenses, almost all of sale profits are banked.
From there, the library turns the cash into community literacy. A box of old donated toys becomes new children’s books. An old lamp transforms into summer reading program prizes A stack of dishes converts into new Makerspace equipment, and so on.
“As time went on, the money has been used for programs for all ages but especially for children and has been used to hire performers,” Leiting said. “It has also helped fund our musical instrument park and Makerspace equipment and we have also used the funds to add new books and movies.”
This year’s rummage sale is set for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, April 10, and 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 11. Donations are accepted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., April 7-9, at the city auditorium.
“We really appreciate when the items donated are clean and in working order,” Leiting said. “Very large, heavy items are discouraged.”
With about 10,000 items donated, Leiting estimates only about half are sold. Unsold items are donated to the Goodwill. The agency parks a semi-trailer near the auditorium to load items into after the sale.
Leiting said she wishes she could list and thank every volunteer by name but is fearful she would miss someone. The sale would not take place if it wasn’t for all the extra help, she said.
“We have people there several days and several hours. Some may only be there during clean up and set up while others come to help during the sale,” Leiting said. “Amazingly, things just fall into place after doing it so many years.”
Jeff and Suz Gubbels said the annual rummage sale has gotten bigger and better every year, and more organized. It’s become an event that people in the area look forward to, and even line up at the doors ready to bargain hunt, like it’s Black Friday in the middle of April.
As the saying goes, “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure,” even if others are still scratching their heads, wondering what exactly the item is.
