Rummage and garage sales to benefit Old Threshers

MT. PLEASANT - Although the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion will not be moving forward this Labor Day weekend, the residents of Mt. Pleasant have continued to rally in support of the event.

Joyce Dennison and Alan Huisinga, board members of the Old Threshers Foundation, will be hosting garage and rummage sales this weekend that will go to benefit the Reunion and other events held on the Old Threshers grounds.

Dennison's sales, which kicked off in August, will go toward helping to purchase a new Santa House for the annual Festival of Lights display. The new 30-by-60-foot house will house a miniature snow village display and will provide families in line to meet Santa a place to wait indoors. The new building will include a handicap accessible bathroom and a basement storage area to house equipment and smaller displays from the Christmas event.

'I want people to see [the Snow Village] and enjoy it. People have also had to stand outside in the cold while waiting for Santa,” she said.

Dennison said the entire project will cost about $200,000. From her rummage sale specifically, she hopes to raise $10,000.

'I originally wanted to do it in July - a Christmas in July sort of thing - but it was so hot,” she said.

The foundation board member added she has been working on getting approval for the new Santa House for several years and received the go-ahead a year ago.

The rummage sale is the first official fundraiser for the project. With more fundraising events in the works, Dennison hopes the Santa House will be ready for Christmas 2021.

'I think it will be a great addition to the experience … I hope it brings people from miles and miles away because it will be so big and special,” she said.

Huisinga, who is involved with raising funds for the Santa House, will be holding a rummage sale this weekend that will go to benefit the foundation and various areas of the Reunion.

Since the sale is happening the weekend the Reunion usually takes place, Huisinga hopes people who would usually be on the grounds will be interested in spending their weekend supporting the event.

'We thought with this COVD-19 and no Old Threshers, this would be one way to generate some money we could pass over to Old Threshers and for other nonprofits in the community,” he said.

Huisinga hopes to raise several thousand dollars over the weekend which he anticipates will contribute to 'supplies and various things” for events.

'I think it's important to get the word out that there that even though we're disappointed there's no Old Threshers, we're going with a positive attitude and planning for next year,” he said.

The board member said with the cancellation, the foundation still hopes to start with 'a positive cash flow.”

'[The rummage sale] is just one way to attract attention and let people know we're still here. We're still a nonprofit and they can still make donations to us. We're going to spend it wisely to get ready to have the best show in 2021,” he added.

Dennison's sale, held at her house behind the radio station on Radio Drive, will run Friday through from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

Huisinga's rummage sale will take place at 108 N. McCoy. The sale will begin on Thursday afternoon, running from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the sale will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.