Relay for Life takes over community garage sale

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Jefferson County is picking up where the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce left off several years ago by hosting a citywide garage sale from 9 a.m. ? 4 p.m. Sept. 17 during the Kiwanis Kids? Day celebration in Fairfield.

The organization is currently recruiting vendors to sell their wares old and new, while simultaneously donating to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

?All 10 by 10 spots are free with a $20 donation to the American Cancer Society Jefferson County Relay for Life. Each additional 10 by 10 is only $10,? said garage sale organizer and Relay for Life team captain Dawn Bechtel. ?We?re doing it to raise funds and raise awareness, and we will be signing teams up for our 5K that day, too.?

Bechtel said the garage sale would be run similarly to the way it has been in the past.

?We?re just expanding it, so it will be a garage sale slash vendor show,? she said, adding that anyone is invited to sell anything except homemade food items.

?Anyone who wants to clean out their attic or someone who does something like Pampered Chef is welcome, but anyone who calls in to do any homemade food items, we are sending over to the farmer?s market,? she said, adding that vendors with prepackaged foods, such as Tastefully Simple, are encouraged to sign up.

?It?s going to be in the same parking lot that it has been in the past, south of 1st National Bank and west of Holt Family Dental,? she said.

Bechtel said the Chamber had sponsored the citywide garage sale for many years and that she was a board member during the time the organization decided to stop.

Bechtel wanted to continue the sale and direct the proceeds to support Relay for Life.

?I wanted to change it and make it more of a vendor type show ? if we do well, we will do one in the fall and we may try to do one in the spring as well,? she said.

This year, Jefferson County Relay for Life organized three events in hopes of reaching out to survivors and drawing in more community involvement.

?We did a walk on the square in May, we did a barbeque in July and we have a 5k Oct. 8 at Walton Lake,? she said, adding that those interested in walking the 5k or becoming team captains could sign up during the garage sale.

?We just want to reach out to all survivors, and we just want survivors to feel that they can reach out to us,? she said. ?Most of the fundraisers that I have personally done as a team captain for Relay for Life all of the money goes to relay. There have been times that we?ve paid for printing or I might purchase something from my own pocket, but I do not expect anything back.?

Bechtel said vendors are welcome to bring their own tables or a 10 by 10 tent for their areas. The sale opens up to vendors at 8 a.m. and all areas must be cleaned by 5 p.m.

?People can pick up forms for the garage sale and the 5k at the 1st National Bank on Burlington Avenue downtown with Angela Berg,? she said. ?They would just need to pay the $20 at that time, and the signed contract would be their receipt.?

Those interested in vending or for more information about the 5k can also contact Bechtel at 919-2209 or email her at Bechteltd@lisco.com.