Deb Toland, a Love INC volunteer, has managed the annual rummage sale for 11 years.
Kelly Perry, Love INC furniture coordinator, and Annette Macias, Love INC executive director, were thrilled with the community’s participation in donating items and in attending the sale.
Love INC (Love in the Name of Christ) of Greater Merced held its annual rummage sale at United Methodist Church at 899 Yosemite Parkway in Merced on October 5.
At the sale, people enjoyed their treasure hunt, browsing through hundreds of fairly priced donated items displayed on the church’s premises, both indoors and outdoors — furniture, appliances, tools, power equipment, shop vacs, lighting fixtures, children’s toys, stereos, TV’s, seasonal decorations, dishes, and bedding, and more.
The proceeds from the rummage sale will be used to support the mission of Love INC — mobilizing local churches to help families in need.
It took about 35 volunteers to set up the rummage sale and somewhere between 30 and 50 volunteers to manage it during the day.
Love INC typically makes between $2,000 and $6,000 for the day.
Annette Macias, Love INC’s Executive Director, said, “We’re so thankful for the community’s outpouring of furniture and other items for our loving families in need. We have great volunteers from the Merced Rescue Mission and Haven of Hope that help with pricing and moving. We have lots of volunteers who come together to make this happen – – a wonderful event that brings so many together for a definite purpose and cause — and we’re grateful and thankful.”
Kelly Perry, Furniture Coordinator, said, “I’m thankful for Merced, and how truly wonderful our community is.”
Deb Toland, who was the Treasurer of the Board of Love INC 15 years ago and then retired and began handling its special events, explained, “Love INC is a non-profit which is part of a national organization. We’ve been serving Merced County for over 20 years. This is my eleventh year doing the rummage sale.”
“Love INC started in Michigan. People in need were knocking on the doors of churches. A man came up with an idea that churches could join an organization, and refer the people in need to a volunteer. The volunteer would qualify the need and be sure the help given would not be abused. The needs were spread out to all the churches.
“Because we are Christians, we connect people in need with churches. In Merced, Love INC has 30 partner churches.”
The churches that belong have different ministries to meet specific needs, such as furniture ministries, food pantries, and medical needs driver ministries for transportation to the doctor.