As anyone who has held a garage sale knows you question every item. Trash or treasure? Do I really have to make this bowl bright and shiny? What is it worth? Then the work, a lot of it, follows: setting up tables, displaying items and cleaning up when the doors close.
But all the work that the CAPS board, staff and volunteers did was well worth it. Our garage sale last Friday and Saturday was hugely successful. The shelter’s pooches and kitties gave an almost-standing Paws Applause! when they heard how well we did. But we couldn’t have pulled this off without a lot of help from others.
We thank Spring Valley Rentals for donating storage space from Aug. 1-Sept. 20. Their gift truly allowed for a higher profit. Thanks to all who donated items and to those who bought them. We had multiple tables crammed with items, and we were amazed how open they were at the end of the first day.
We give a shout out to all the volunteers who waited in the August sun to receive donated items. We also thank them for picking up items from donors who weren’t able to bring items to us, especially Billy Hand who picked up goods in Fernley. The week preceding the sale involved long hours setting up everything, and tails were dragging by Saturday afternoon. Paws Applause! to all you dedicated CAPS lovers and volunteers.
Our gratitude goes to Thrifty Finds, a nonprofit supporting Churchill County youth, for taking all the items we didn’t sell.
We send another shout out to Billy Hand who bought and delivered delicious lunches on both days; what an unexpected treat that was!
As a final note, we apologize to anyone who arrived at the sale site before 4 p.m. to find it closed. Around 2:30 we took notice of dark, heavy clouds gathering in the western sky. Then the wind kicked up hard enough to blow dust and dirt six feet above street level. Our tired tails went into full speed to pack up everything, most of which was not in the garage.
Let’s now move on to the future events. Last week this column noted that the board will have decided on who will cater the Murder Mystery Dinner and the ticket price. We are very pleased to announce that Maine Street Café will be on board to tantalize your taste buds. This year dinner will be served buffet style, and we plan to have two lines open for less waiting-in-line time.
The ticket price is $30, and it not only provides a very fine meal but also a night of fun and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased at the shelter (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.), Jeff’s Copy Express, The UPS Store and Mutts, etc.
So, you may be wondering, what’s on the menu? You will have a choice of chicken piccata or tri-tip steak, which you will choose when you buy a ticket. These will be served with oven-roasted potatoes, mixed oven-roasted fresh vegetables, a tossed green salad, dinner rolls and butter, iced tea and coffee. Dessert will be luscious cupcakes much like the ones served last year. (Sandy Fisk has again donated her time and talent to us.) A cash bar serving wine and beer will be available.
Want to know more about the play? Next week this column will run Executive Director (and shelter manager) Teresa Summers’ take on it, along with other information about the event.
As a final note, please drop by Flower Tree Nursery to buy raffle tickets for a gorgeous 15-gallon blireiana plum tree valued at $79.99. This tree has striking leaf color in the fall and fragrant pink blossoms in the spring. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. CAPS receives all proceeds of this drawing. The drawing will be held on Oct. 19 at Flower Tree, and you don’t have to be present to win.
This week’s column was contributed by Betty Duncan, a member of the CAPS board of directors.