Your future, our focus
They don't know whether to call it a "Bazaar" or the "Mother of All Garage Sales," but Northwest College faculty and staff are sponsoring what they hope is the biggest local event of its kind Friday and Saturday, April 30 and May 1. Proceeds from the used-item sales extravaganza will go to the Bridger Hall Student Fire Fund to help students displaced by the recent fire.
The doors to the college's Trapper Gym on Sixth St. will open from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday for sales of mountains of merchandise.
Its size isn't the only unusual thing about the sale. The two-day event will also feature a silent auction to enhance the earnings from new or high-end items.
Associate Professor of English Bill Hoagland came up with the idea to hold a garage sale when he noticed the huge selection of clothing and other supplies donated by the community for the Bridger Hall students.
"All those tables and racks of leftover clothes made me think of a big garage sale," Hoagland said. But then he thought of the leftover donations as "seeds" for an even bigger sale. He expects the final set-up to more resemble a bazaar than a garage sale.
He's hoping community members will get in the spirit also and contribute their leftover or unneeded items.
"We have plenty of clothes already," Hoagland said. "Now what we really need are the kinds of things that make for ‘a real classy' sale. Knick knacks, books, novelty items, working appliances, small furniture, toys and collectibles are all welcome. If it works or is in good shape, we can sell it."
He encourages those who want to donate a high-value item to e-mail him or call (307) 754-6432 so he can be sure to get the items on the silent auction.
Community donations can be dropped off at the Trapper Gym beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, April 29. Cody area residents can drop off their items from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the NWC Cody Center, 2538 Big Horn Ave., diagonally across from Big Horn Cinemas.
Powell area residents who need someone to pick up their heavy items are encouraged to contact Holly Berryman, NWC's communications services operator, (307) 754-6000.
"As everybody knows, the outpouring of community support after the fire has been nothing short of phenomenal," Hoagland said. "What many of us didn't realize, however, was that when you divide $20,000 by 100 students, that ends up as a $200 payment per student, which in some cases won't even replace two textbooks. That's when a lot of us at Northwest understood that we all had to dig in and find one more wave of energy to help out these students."
Given the already busy and stressful schedules at the college, Hoagland said, "It's sure to be a crazy event, but it can also be a lot fun and a great way to help out right at the end of the semester."
Hoagland is organizing campus volunteers to set up tables, work the sale hours, and assist in clean-up afterward. He encourages anyone with questions or offers of assistance to contact him or Berryman at (307) 754-6000.