By LEIGH C. MERRIFIELD
News & Journal Editor
Hey, it’s Spring … and a good time to clean out your closets, attic, basement, storage building, etc.!!!
The Progressive Women’s Association is going to provide you with a GREAT opportunity to get rid of some of your “unwanteds”. If you haven’t heard of the “Coast to Coast Route 50 Yard Sale”, allow us to give your some particulars.
This is the event’s 17th year, and the public AND merchants that are located along U.S. Route 50 are encouraged to join in. If your area is going to participate, just publicize it and invite residents, vendors, businesses, etc. to take part.
Tammy Gragg, a PWA member says the Board asked her to handle organizing this, and since it is her first “solo” project, she is working very hard to make it a success.
“I was told that West Virginia is just getting on board with this project and this will be the first time that Harrison County has registered to participate,” she said. “I understand that there will also be events in Taylor and Doddridge Counties so there will be lots of opportunities for folks to buy! We are hosting our event on Saturday, May 20th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in downtown Clarksburg. Vendors and sellers will be located on South 3rd Street between Washington Avenue and W. Main Street. If we have a good response, we can even perhaps use the PWA’s lower parking lot for vendor setups. Participants must fill out a vendor application and pay a $10 fee to the PWA; vendors must also bring their own tables and chairs, etc., and just in case of rain that day, we encourage them to bring canopies.”
The Coast-to-Coast Yard Sale is held every year on the weekend before the Memorial Day holiday weekend and stretches from California to the coast of Maryland. It also promotes tourism along U.S. 50!
“There are no limitations as long as the items you intend to sell are legal!” Tammy added. “Bring yard sale items … or businesses in Clarksburg are invited to participate with sidewalk sales … craft artisans can participate … or Tupperware dealers and Avon dealers, etc. can join in … sell baked sale items … scout troops, civic organizations or school clubs may find it a wonderful fund-raising opportunity! We hope to have a very diverse group of participants.”
The PWA sees this as a great option for them as well! “We are a United Way agency – non-profit – and we depend upon grants, donations and most importantly fundraisers to help us maintain our Uptown Event Center,” she explained. “This is how we survive. And then we give back by hosting a lot of events for the public that are free of charge. We want to keep this going so we hope to gain a lot of support from people as participants. The public still has time to start weeding out things they would like to get rid of in time to participate in this. Tell your friends, family and neighbors, and come join us to make this a successful sale day!”
The U.S. 50 Yard Sale has caught on over the past 17 years and many more communities along Route 50 are getting involved. The hope is that at some point in time, it will really link connecting communities along this old highway – crossing mountains, deserts, farmland – and truly connect the east and west coast of the U.S. with sales going on in consecutive locales in each state.
Take advantage of this opportunity to get rid of some things this Spring. What you consider as unwanted items may just be exactly what someone else is looking for!
If you have questions, obtain the required application form or to pay your space fee, please contact Tammy Gragg at 304-266-5585 or send her an e-mail at Tammy.PWA2017@gmail.com.
