'I just want to get toys in the hands of people who can't afford them and help a charity.'
In 2013, Brandy Elford was driving home from the store and had a realization - toys are expensive.
"I was appalled at the price of toys," Elford said. "How can people afford this stuff?"
Then she had another thought - "I wish it was yard sale season" - followed by a spark of an idea - why can't it be?
"I was appalled at the price of toys," Elford said. "How can people afford this stuff?"
Then she had another thought - "I wish it was yard sale season" - followed by a spark of an idea - why can't it be?
From there she started the Everybody Wins Used Toy Sale and Giveaway. She asked people to donate gently used toys to be sold at yard sale prices or below. With just a two-week turnaround, she put her plan into motion. Despite a lot of snow on sale day, she raised $600.
And from there, things just got bigger and better.
And from there, things just got bigger and better.
In 2018, the effort raised about $2,000 and the next year about $1,800. For the last two years, Elford put the sale on hold due to COVID, but was ready to dust off the idea in 2022.
On Thursday night she was joined by a small army of volunteers who were scurrying about the Galloway United Methodist Church gym pricing and organizing the first wave of donated items. Elford was about a third of the way to her goal as of 6:30 p.m. "I'm hoping more stuff will show up," she said.
From 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 2, she will accept clean, gently used, like new and new toys for ages baby through teen, including dolls, cars, books, sporting items, costumes, stuffed animals, and imagination items. Her wishlist includes "anything a kid would play with," she said. Donations can be dropped off by using the front entrance of the church, which is located off Route 417.
On Thursday night she was joined by a small army of volunteers who were scurrying about the Galloway United Methodist Church gym pricing and organizing the first wave of donated items. Elford was about a third of the way to her goal as of 6:30 p.m. "I'm hoping more stuff will show up," she said.
From 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 2, she will accept clean, gently used, like new and new toys for ages baby through teen, including dolls, cars, books, sporting items, costumes, stuffed animals, and imagination items. Her wishlist includes "anything a kid would play with," she said. Donations can be dropped off by using the front entrance of the church, which is located off Route 417.
On Saturday, all the items will be available for purchase. From 9 a.m. to noon things will be sold at their marked prices. From noon to 1 p.m., everything will be half off. After a one-hour break, she will open the doors again and all the remaining items will be given away for free until 3 p.m.
All the money raised will be donated to the Family Service & Children’s Aid Society's shelter for domestic and sexual abuse victims.
As for the remaining toys, Elford says that has never been an issue, even the first year in the blizzard. That year, as they were cleaning up the remaining items a woman pulled up who said their family could not afford toys that year due to losing their employment. "We just loaded her up," Elford said as she recalled hitting her mission right from the start.
All the money raised will be donated to the Family Service & Children’s Aid Society's shelter for domestic and sexual abuse victims.
As for the remaining toys, Elford says that has never been an issue, even the first year in the blizzard. That year, as they were cleaning up the remaining items a woman pulled up who said their family could not afford toys that year due to losing their employment. "We just loaded her up," Elford said as she recalled hitting her mission right from the start.
"It's pretty simple. I just want to get toys into the hands of people who can't afford them and help a charity."
Find out more about the sale through the Facebook event page.
Find out more about the sale through the Facebook event page.
RSS Feed