WINONA LAKE - With some dedicated volunteers and a lot of hard work, Kids Market has taken a couple of weekends each year and raised more than $84,000 since its first sale in 2001.
Kids Market helps parents shop for gently used maternity and children's items by collecting items and putting them up for sale at Rodeheaver Auditorium in Winona Lake.
The Grace College venue will be brimming with clothes, cribs, shoes and more.
The spring event is scheduled for Thursday through March 13.
The public sale is March 12 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
From 3 to 5 p.m. that day, all items that haven't been sold will be marked at 50 percent off.
Around 130 volunteers will have collected, inspected and put out all the items for sale.
Kids Market is a not-for-profit. Any money taken is used to pay for the cost of the event. The rest of the money is donated to other not-for-profit organizations that benefit women and children like the Baker Youth Club.
In 2010, the spring sale raised $15,300 while the fall sale raised $14,440.
There also will be about a dozen booths of not-for-profits set up at the event.
"I think it's just so exciting to see the community come together," said Kids Market coordinator Cindy Clingan.
She said that some consignors choose to donate their items that don't sell.
Clingan said the community benefits from being able to go to one location to shop for items and at the same time help some great programs.
"By the time we get to the end of the sale and we see how much money we can give, it is very rewarding," said Clingan.
Those who wish to consign items must obtain a seller's number first. The deadline for that is Wednesday.
Clingan said it's a win-win. For the consignor, they keep 66 percent of what the item is sold for and don't have to hassle with setting up a garage sale.
Those looking to purchase items can save money, said Clingan.
And more importantly, not-for-profits are helped.
Drop off for items begins Thursday and runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.Friday drop-off hours are 9 a.m. to noon.
There will be a volunteer presale from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and a consignor presale from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Items will be picked up Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.kidsmarketinc.com or search for Kids Market on Facebook.
