82nd Annual White Elephant Sale Intake Begins June 28 in Old Lyme

OLD LYME, CT — From the First Congregational Church of 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 you
can drop off unwanted items at the church from your house — perhaps your basement, attic or
closets — or yard.

Garage, tag and rummage sales may be everyday affairs, but few, if any, can match the size and
color of this one. The 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 non-church 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 28, and runs daily
from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Saturday, June 30. Then there is a break for the July 4th holiday and then
intake restarts Thursday, July 5, and continues through Saturday, July 7. There will also be no evening
intake sessions this year and also no large furniture pick-up.

The sale itself will be held on Friday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturday, July 14, from 8 a.m.
to 12 p.m. Most departments offer items at half-price on the second day.

For more information about the sale or if you would like to volunteer to help in any capacity,
whether with intake, the sale itself, or clean-up, call the church office at 860.434.8686 and/or visit
www.fccol.org.

See you at The Sale!

Summary of items that will / will not be accepted by the White Elephant Sale:

Items that will GLADLY be accepted [QUALITY Please!]:

Antiques, Fine China, Silver
Appliances, Small (Working)
Art, Sculpture, Posters, Frames
Automobiles, Trucks [call church]
Baskets
Bedding, Linens
Boats, Canoes, Kayaks
Bicycles, Tricycles
Books: Children’s, Non-Fiction, Fiction
Clothes:
-Child’s, Men’s, Women’s
-Fine, Fashion
-Vintage, Costume & Accessories
Collections
Computer Hardware (working)
Christmas Decorations
Curtains, Drapes
Electronics (Working)
Furniture, Indoor & Outdoor [call church]
Gifts, Sundries, Knickknacks
Jewelry: Costume & Fine
Kitchen Items (Appliances, Dishes, Cookware)
Lamps (Working)
Luggage [soft side or Steamer trunks only]
Musical Instruments
Plants, Containers
Shoes
Skis – downhill must be “shape” style
Sporting Goods [good condition]
Tools (House & Garden)
Toys, Stuffed Animals
VHS, DVDs (Family Content)

Items that will NOT be accepted:

Dirty or Broken Items or Junk
Appliances (Large):
-Air Conditioners
-Refrigerators & Stoves
-Freezers
-Washers & Dryers
Bike helmets [used]
Books:
-Technical or Textbooks
-Encyclopedias
Car Seats
Chemicals
Computer monitors [unless flat screen]
Luggage [hard sided]
Fuel cans with Gasoline or Kerosene
Guns, Knives, Weapons
Magazines, Newspapers
Mattresses, and Box Springs
Paint
Particle board furniture
Rugs
Sewing Machines
Skis – old style downhill
Stuffed sofas / sofa beds
Tires
Treadmills [more than 5-years-old]
TVs [unless flat screen]

Photo 1: Intake is always a busy time; Photo 2: The Sports Department offers a treasure trove of sporting ‘stuff;' Photo 3: Lunch is a universally popular affair at the Sale! Photo 4: Crowds anxiously await the first strike of 9 a.m. when the White Elephant Sale begins. Photo credit: Ladies Benevolent Society of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme

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