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RANDOLPH – A library fundraiser has reached its ending, but organizers hope its just the end of the chapter and not the end of the book.
The Friends of the Library annual rummage sale will not be taking place this spring due to the inability for the Norfolk Salvation Army to pickup any remaining items once the sale is over.
Last month, the Salvation Army moved its location to the former Norfolk post office building that had sat vacant for several years.
“We don’t want to throw stuff in the dumpster,” said Peggy Leiting, director of the Lied Randolph Public Library. “The problem also is the last few years, they (Salvation Army) won’t take Christmas stuff, picture frames. They won’t take books.”
The rummage sale has been a staple for more than 20 years, giving local residents a chance to clean out their closets for a good cause. The sale also brought people into the community each year to search for good deals, oftentimes with people lining up outside the auditorium awaiting for the doors to open.
Tables fill the auditorium, often heaped full of donated items, making the scale of the sale quite large.
“It is amazing and we get some really nice things. It is quite a gift,” Leiting said, adding that she’s picked up a few things over the years including craft items that she can use for library programs.
With the size of the sale, the Friends of the Library and other volunteers put in many hours to make it a success each year.
“It will be nice having that week of my life back,” Leiting said of the break this year.
But she’s not ready to close the book - just yet - on the annual rummage sale.
“We will give them (Salvation Army) a call next year and hopefully they’ll be in a better place,” she said.
If the Salvation Army can’t do it again next year, she may reach out to other thrift stores in the area to see if any others could help lighten the load for rummage sale leftovers.
The idea for the fundraiser stemmed from the success of the United Methodist Church of Carroll’s annual rummage sale. Initially, the local event was held twice a year to raise money for the new library building and was changed to an annual event once the library was built.
Leiting estimates the sale bringing in $60,000 over the years to support children’s programming.
Plans will move forward for children’s programming this year despite the rummage sale fundraiser.
“We will miss the money but we’re fine,” Leiting said.
The Friends of the Library group met last week with some new members contributing ideas and discussing activities. Highlights from the group’s last meeting include: - The library received the Youth Grant for Excellence to expand its Lego League.
- Another library improvement grant was awarded for a new bike rack and solar lights.
- Randolph’s 4-H groups expressed interest in helping beautify the library grounds with mulching and planting this spring.
- The library’s MakerSpace equipment was utilized heavily over the holiday season. The library will be instructing students on 3-D design and making keychains during an upcoming afterschool program.
- Several adult programs have been scheduled this spring including a book signing and author visit from Emersyn Park, a Sioux Falls, S.D., author. A Nebraska Humanities speaker, Cherrie Beam Callaway, will present “Courage to Continue: Changing Homestead in Nebraska.”
- The library’s Spice Club continues to meet monthly with recipes and samples provided of a featured spice.
- Ideas were suggested for additional children’s programming and Summer Reading Program activities.
The Randolph City Auditorium was filled to the brim with items for sale as well as potential buyers at the Lied Randolph Public Library annual rummage sale last year. Last year’s sale netted more than $4,000. The sale will not be taking place this year due to the inability for the Norfolk Salvation Army to pickup any remaining items once the sale is over. File Photo
