ECHO’S Monthly Yard Sale Hits Stride With Good, Plaid & Snuggly Deals

The bargain hunters were out early and in force at the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO) Charity Thrift Sale on April 30.

The doors did not open until 8 a.m., but the canny and close-fisted were waiting patiently at 7:30 a.m. hoping to catch that elusive prey every weekend garage sale addict dreams of: a deal.

Everything from baby toys to designer dresses was on the chopping block with all donations going to the purchase of perishable food items.

Gene Edwards was one of the many volunteers at the event, directing shoppers to furniture and toy areas, a specialty dress boutique — newer dresses costing $5-$10 — and the large clothing rack where every item was $1.

Proceeds from the sale fund the purchase of perishable food items including meat, milk, eggs and butter, Edwards said. ECHO cannot accept donations of perishable foodstuffs so the group must buy such items with cash.  

“We may not accept perishable items as donation, but certainly need them,” said Edwards, who racked up more than 1,600 volunteer hours at ECHO in 2010. “The families that come in for help can pick out clothes here but they also need those basic things like meat and milk.”

A food pantry and clothes closet for people in need, ECHO last year served 11,089 individuals, according to Stacey Efaw, the organization’s executive director. The group has helped more than 109,000 people, over half of them children, with the basic life necessities since it opened in 1987.

Center Director Joni Damico expected to raise around $2,000 from the charity thrift sale. It’s only the fifth time ECHO has held such a sale, an adroit marketing decision made in the wake of the downturn in the economy.

“With the economy our monetary donations have dropped so these sales help make a difference,” Damico said. And allowing the public a chance to peruse the group’s clothing and household inventory once a month hardly puts a dent in ECHO’s stock, she added.

“Our community is so generous with donations people will not even notice a difference when they come in for help Monday.”

More news from and about ECHO:

• ECHO needs volunteers for the May 14 Stamp Out Hunger Postal Food Drive. Unlike drives in the past, this year volunteers also are needed for two-hour shifts on the night before the drive. “We are changing things a little this year and doing it in conjunction with Feed America and therefore we need people at the Feed America facility,” Davila said. She’s confident Brandon will turn out for the event — the group usually has 300-400 volunteers every year — but with the changes this year she just wants to get the message out.

• ECHO on May 22, at Cross Creek Ranch in Dover, is hosting the "Baubles, Bar-B-Que & Bubbles" fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. Food is from Hungry Harry's Bar-B-Que.

• ECHO needs donations of gently used clothes, towels, blankets and household items. Food items most needed are canned meats, jelly, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, canned pasta, rice and macaroni and cheese. Toiletries and hygiene products also are needed.

• Visit ECHO online for more information or call: (813) 685-0935.