Thrifters wanted at Mission's 1st garage sale

FINDLAY — If you're on the search for treasure, you may want to stop by the City Mission's new warehouse and check out the nonprofit's first benefit garage sale. The mission is holding a rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 12-13. The warehouse is located at 330 Walnut St. "What a great time of year to start that up," said executive Director Kathryn Bausman, who enjoys a garage sale as much as the next guy. "I am a thrifter, big time," she said. The mission's programming and services have grown over the past few years as well as the number of guests who are staying there. Bausman hoped to help alleviate the storage issue by leasing a 60,000-square-foot warehouse which would allow for larger food donations and other items. Bausman said having the warehouse has helped. "It has really increased our ability to receive larger donations," she said. The warehouse also has parking closer to the building for donations. Other items like clothes, books and toys have been coming in as well. A thrift store is in the works for the other side of the warehouse in the near future, she said. Donations are accepted from 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and many groups have been helping sort items, she said. "Items will first go to help guests in moving forward," explained Bausman. "Then they will be used in the upcoming thrift store or the garage sale." The sale is being held to move on an overabundance they have of items, she said. "We actually have too much product," she said. "And it will also be seed money, startup money for getting stuff we need for the thrift store." Bausman said there's still paperwork to be done and carpet to be laid before the store can open to the public. All kinds of nonfood items are accepted, she added, including toys, clothes, books, furniture, jewelry, collectibles and more. Donations for food should still be taken to the central location at 510 W. Main Cross St., where it will be weighed and logged in, she said. In the meantime, Bausman is also working on the permits needed to open Martha's Home, a women with children's emergency shelter, that will be located at 1918 N. Main St. "Everything is moving forward. Everything's a little bit later, but I'm pretty impatient," she laughed. "They tell me that, 'no, you're right on track.' So I guess I'm right on track." Bausman is still hoping to have Martha's Home open and ready for occupancy before the end of summer.