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New Brunswick weekend yard sale extended to support the local food bank

Earl Kervin from Riverview, New Brunswick organized a huge multi-family yard sale in support of the Salisbury Helping Hands Inc. Food Bank. The sale was sponsored by the Five Points Baptist Church and accepted items from community members to sell. The items did not have price tags, allowing buyers to make donations they were comfortable with. A diverse range of items were available, including display cases, books, pottery, and paintings.

An estimated 40-50 people dropped off donations and contributed to the yard sale on Saturday, raising nearly $2,000. The sale featured a unique offer where people could fill their trunk for $10 or their truck for $20. Kervin highlights the ripple effect of such events, noting that they raise awareness and provide long-term support for the charity involved. Despite the rain forecast, the sale had a solid turn out, and Kervin decided to extend it to Monday and Tuesday. Leftover items will be donated to the Salvation Army to avoid waste.

Kervin, who organized the sale at his property, asked people to donate items needed by the food bank, such as deodorants, dish soap, feminine products, toothbrushes, peanut butter, kidney beans, baked beans, soda crackers, cereal, and mustard. Cash donations were also accepted, and receipts were provided.

Over the years, Kervin has done several yard sales in support of different charities or organizations — including Teen Challenge in New Brunswick — and the local food bank this year. “Some people are just donating cash even though they’re not yard sale fans. They’ll come by and say, ‘Hey, this is a good cause, and we want to support the food bank or the community,’ so they’ve been very generous. Just the outpour has been very encouraging, and we’re just thrilled,” Kervin said.

“It feels great, you know, we’re a non-profit and we depend totally on donations to run our food bank,” said Laurie Steward, president of Salisbury Helping Hands Inc. Food Bank. “Unlike other food banks that have clothing depots and have an income, we have none. We depend totally on donations from the village, from people, and we have great, great people supporting us.”

Source: CTV News