Despite a double whammy of rain and wind from Mother Nature, the Miles Memorial Hospital Rummage sale was a success.
Ruth Anne Bryant, the committee chair, said a preliminary estimate shows they have taken in $89,000 and the “take” is expected to be more than $90,000.
“It is down a bit from last year, but when you consider we had terrible weather, a terrible economy and no help from our summer visitor friends, we are pleased,” she said.
The sale, usually held in August, was postponed because the field that serves as the site of the sale was too wet. It was set for October in hopes the field would be dry.
Summer visitors, who provide volunteers and customers, were absent from the fall event. Still, Bryant said they had more than 600 volunteer workers helping out.
Last Thursday, the opening day crowd at the annual event that raises funds for Miles Memorial Hospital, had customers waiting in line for several miles. “They were lined up from the Subway Sandwich shop in the south to Reunion Station in the north,” Bryant said.
Crowds were down a bit on Friday and on Saturday, the traditional day where customers can buy treasures by the bag the crowd was down again.
The reason was a driving rain and bitter winds. “I hated to do it, but I sent everyone home by 2 p.m., ” Bryant said.
Bryant hosted a cookout for some 70 volunteers on Sunday and the weather was beautiful.
The rest of this week, volunteers will be cleaning up the grounds. Their work is still being hampered by the soggy field conditions, Bryant said.
