Service, Stewardship at Heart of Barnesville Basement

Each year, Barnesville families donate like new and gently used goods for the Barnesville Basement Giant Indoor Yard Sale to raise funds to support School programs and financial aid. Locally based community organizations that serve the homeless, individuals affected by disabilities, at-risk youth, and other communities in need also benefit from the annual event.

The school’s director of special events, Robin Snider, and parent volunteer event chair, Dana Smith, work hard to ensure that the rummage sale reflects the School’s commitment to public service and environmental stewardship. The morning of the sale, bargain shoppers from surrounding communities line-up to enter our gymnasium packed full of clothing, toys, furniture, and other household items. Quality items can be purchased at a fraction of their value, helping young parents, seniors, and others stretch their shopping dollars and find treasures that would otherwise be discarded.

After the sale closes, Barnesville faculty, staff, parents, and students sort through unsold furniture, clothing, and household items to donate quality items to area organizations. Everything from the sale is either sold, donated, or recycled.

This year, the following organizations received surplus items to support their efforts:

• The Arc Montgomery County
• Every Mind
• Frederick Rescue Mission
• Frameworks for Families
• Interfaith Works
• Rukundo International
• Vietnam Veterans of America

When asked about her motivation for volunteering, Dana explained, “One of the best parts about running the Barnesville Basement sale for a third year is forging a deeper connection to our community, whether it is to seeing a family donate toddler items I've gotten to watch their child outgrow, or seeing spontaneous alumni reunions as families whose children have graduated return to keep supporting a place they still hold dear, or seeing families of shoppers who return year after year who say hello like old friends.”

The 2017 sale earned just over $5,000 for Barnesville, a non-profit independent school that relies on fundraising events and donations to help bridge the gap between tuition income and the actual cost of operating the School. Like most independent schools, Barnesville sets tuition below the cost of educating each student. The School has not increased tuition for three straight years and offers need-based Variable Tuition. We believe our students' experience is made better and our community stronger through this commitment to socioeconomic diversity, and we don’t want cost to be a roadblock for any family who believes Barnesville is the best environment for their child to learn and grow.

Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences is an independent private school in Montgomery County, Maryland offering innovative preschool through 8th grade programs. Cross-curricular teaching encourages students to explore how subjects relate to one another, helping them to make connections that spark inquiry and deepen understanding. Small classes enable skilled teachers to engage each child in an academically challenging environment. Our 30-acre campus is our extended classroom, and we integrate nature into everyday learning. Barnesville is certified as a Maryland Green School by the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education, demonstrating achievement in curriculum and instruction, community partnerships, and best management practices.