Pleasantview benefit sale coming up this weekend

KALONA — Pleasantview Home in Kalona will repeat a tradition dating back to 1956 this weekend with its annual benefit sale, auctioning off quilts, pastries, collectible cups, invitations to home-cooked meals, and all manner of other items.

The goods are all donated by community members. Some are genuine, high-end items, like a donated picnic table this year. Others, in the words of Pleasantview Director of Advancement Larry Swartzendruber, are “gimmicky” pieces with high demand thanks to years of tradition.

“People will spend 50 bucks on a large can of peanuts,” he said. “There’s a gentleman whose mother was a resident here … who makes twelve mugs for us and numbers them every year. And so there are certain people that have one from every year or nearly every year. There’s one gentleman who always tries to get mug number one.”

The retirement community has seen its revenue from the sale increase in the last several years, and hopes to beat last year’s $80,000 record-breaker. The money will help buy a new wheelchair accessible van, according to organizers.

The sale owes its success to community members willing to donate goods and outbid one another at the sale, as well as auctioneers who donate the time for the event where Swartzendruber said they “do a great job of keeping things moving and lively.”

“Many of them know most of the crowd, and they’re very adept at encouraging competition among the crowd,” he said. “Our executive director has worked a number of senior living operations, and says that he’s never seen anything like this particular event”

Swartzendruber said the institution was profoundly thankful for the help, and glad to coordinate an event beloved by so many Kalona community members for so many years.

“I remember as a child going to the benefits sale,” he said. “I lived in Kalona, it was a Kalona event. ”It’s something that’s dear to my heart, as both of my parents passed away here, and it’s dear to the hearts of many. It’s a community event (where) people enjoy getting together and working for a common cause.“

The sale will happen the night of Nov. 8 and morning of Nov. 9 at Hillcrest Academy north of Kalona. Organizers will provide dinner on Friday and breakfast Saturday.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com