Annual Benefit Yard Sale Raises $3,000 for Mackinac Island Lilac Care
By Sean Ely

Nineteen of the volunteers at the 6th annual Benefit Yard Sale stand in the backyard at the Pine Cottage on the West Bluff as shoppers browse through clothing, furniture, kitchen items, and hundreds of other items, with proceeds to benefit lilacs on Mackinac Island. From left are Bonnie Foltz, Marilyn Putz, Marcia Dunnigan, Kay Berke, Jane Manoogian, J.R. Reagle, Diane Sprengel, Buck Sharrow, Michelle Stuck, Maryanke Alexander, Loretta Spatta, Jill Sawatzki, Lisa Akerman, Barb Kovalak, Mary Duffina, Paula Starkweather, Carol Rearick, K.C. Carter, and Rosalie Roush.

For the sixth year, the backyard of Pine Cottage on the West Bluff was filled with everything shoppers could imagine Friday, August 3, for a yard sale that raised $3,000 for the Island's lilacs.

The sale was hosted by Jane Manoogian and 25 volunteers from the Mackinac Island Book Club, and merchandise was donated by Island residents and summer cottagers. Toys, dolls, rugs, clothing, art, phones, answering machines, printers, books, board games, glassware, candle holders, posters, golf equipment, lounge chairs, tables, children's car seats, figurines, and many other items were laid out on tables and across the lawn. Most items were priced no higher than $5.

"This year there was more stuff than ever," Mrs. Manoogian said, "and with this great volunteer situation, having 25 of them, it's just an easy sale, and it's a lot of fun. It even gives us the chance to hang out together and talk; it's a party! I love to see the people come and enjoy themselves like this."

The volunteers are members of Mackinac Island's Book Club, which sponsored the yard sale. The Manoogian's house caretaker, Bonnie Foltz, was one of the people who helped put everything together in preparation for the event.

This is an occasion that many look forward to, not only to buy items and socialize, but to donate unused items from their homes.

"This is recycling at its best," said volunteer Rosalie Roush, who has been helping for the last few years. "This stuff has been in these Island barns for 100 years, and it goes from one to the other, and back and forth. People really love it."

A yard sale offers an opportunity to find new items, and to offer their unwanted items for re-use at the same time, both important considerations for people who live on an island, Mrs. Foltz said.

The first sale, in 2002, was launched when she was cleaning out her basement, Mrs. Manoogian said. In the process, she found a lot of hidden treasures from when the G. Mennen Williams family lived in the house.

There also were items from Grand Hotel, and she knew that people would be interested in them.

"It went on from there to be purely donations, and people have come out and brought all of this stuff," she said. "It's just wonderful."

Anything that is dirty or in poor condition is not accepted, and shoppers enjoyed bargains. For example, one could have walked away with three novels, two board games, an electronic handheld game, a hat, two shirts, and a figurine, all for less than $10.

Some shoppers enjoy bargaining with the checkout volunteers.

"Many people say, 'Wow, this is only a dollar?' But another thing one might see is someone saying, 'I would never pay this much for that,'" said volunteer Marcia Dunnigan. "But then, someone working will say, 'OK, how about a dollar then?' So people do haggle here, and it works. Our main thing is to get rid of it and make some money."

Money raised will be applied toward a study of Mackinac's signature lilacs, especially in Marquette Park, to determine whether new plantings need to be started there to replace the aging shrubs.