Donation dates set for White Elephant Sale

OLD LYME » The perennially popular White Elephant Sale (WES) hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme is just around the corner.

For those new to the town or folk who have never participated, this 81st annual sale is one of the main events on both the town and church calendars. It all starts with the intake period when residents can drop off unwanted items at the church.

Garage, tag and rummage sales may be everyday affairs, but few, if any, can match the size and color of this one. Sale items are organized into some 20 departments that fill the church buildings as well as every available space on the lawn. The WES has grown so large that it has become a true “community event,” since many of the donations are from nonchurch members and quite a number of volunteers are also from outside the church.

The sale raises a significant amount of money for missions and good works both locally and throughout the world. Some of the beneficiaries include food pantries, health organizations, family support centers, children’s programs, literacy volunteers, affordable housing, and disaster relief worldwide.

Mark your calendars now for the dates of this year’s sale. Intake begins on Thursday, June 29, and runs daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Saturday, July 1. There is a break for the July 4 holiday, and intake begins again on Wednesday, July 5, and continues through Saturday, July 8. Two evening intake sessions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, and Thursday, July 6.

The sale itself will be held on Friday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, July 15, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Most departments offer items at halfprice on the second day.

For more information about the sale or to volunteer to help in any capacity, whether with intake, the sale itself, or cleanup, call the church office at 860434-8686 or visit www.fccol.org.