Vermilion Rotary garage sale moves online

Popular community event is getting creative for this year’s sale.

The Vermilion Rotary Club is excited to be hosting their first ever Online Furniture Auction on Tuesday.

For the past 12 years, the club have hosted a community garage sale as a major fundraiser to help support community facilities including a $50,000 commitment to the ice plant, and a $100,000 towards the lodge renovation, while sponsoring scholarships, sports, school lunch and breakfast programs, and the inclusive playground at St. Jerome’s School.

Their garage sale has grown so much over the years that it regularly fills the entire curling rink.

“Members of the community donate generously and they come out in droves to support us,” said Rotarian Brenda Lee.

She said they often open the door to 300-400 people and couldn’t allow for that kind of indoor activity this year. This winter, Rotarians were able to find some storage and accept donations for the furniture they currently have.

“Rotarians are people of action and this was a project we could work together on safely. This is so different for us but we figured it was something we could do for our community. It give our club an opportunity to come together and raise some funds. Because the donations came from the community we are committed to give all the money back to the community,” said Lee.

Opting to go online, their furniture auction will be made accessible on their Facebook page Rotary Club of Vermilion Alberta.

They will have approximately 105 items for sale from Tuesday-Thursday. Each item has been measured and will be featured on a live video at 9:00am Tuesday morning.

Bidding will open at that time, and will close at 9pm on August 6.

Approximately 20 items listed as ‘Take Home Items’ will have solid prices. The first person that bids the price on that item will get to take it home. They don’t even have to wait until bidding is over or scheduled pickups are created.

This Friday, they will reconcile who has bought each item and make payment arrangements. They will schedule pick-ups right away and special circumstances may warrant delivery, but there will be no in-home delivery.

Mike Webb begins as president

Members have had to adjust to many changes this year including moving from hosting no meetings, to zoom meetings, to socially distanced and online options. Though this time, they have navigated how to operate without going door to door or actively selling.

“We were very happy that even with everything else going on that the community supported the Rotary Club through the cash raffle and flag project,” said Mike Webb.

Webb accepted his new role as Rotary President on July 1.

“I enjoy being a part of Rotary because of the opportunities and responsibility to give back to the community,” said Webb.

For more information you can call Brenda Lee at 780-853-7861.