In addition to the soggy summer vacations, innumerable family outings and thousands of dollars in lost crops, the latest victim to run afoul of Mother Nature is the annual Miles Memorial Hospital League Rummage Sale.
This week, sale chairperson Ruth Anne Bryant confirmed the League’s annual fundraiser will have to be postponed from its original scheduled weekend in August.
Originally set to occur in David Chapman’s field on outer Main Street in Damariscotta Aug. 13-15, sale organizers are looking to September or even October for a new date, Bryant said. Bryant said she plans to meet with the MMHL executive committee this week to discuss rescheduling.
“The date to be set will depend a lot on what Mother Nature hands us,” she said.
The problem is with all the unseasonable rain this summer, Chapman’s field is in no condition to host the sale which involves facilities, hundreds of volunteers and vehicles, tons of donations and thousands of bargain hunters.
Bryant noted the ground is too wet to even allow tent pegs to be set firmly.
Proceeding could not only cause considerable damage to the field, it could also present safety issues, Bryant said. “The ground is so wet we would tear the field all to pieces,” Bryant said.
Further complicating the issue, Bryant noted the fall calendar has other previously scheduled events that sale organizers will have to take into consideration including Damariscotta’s Pumpkin and Pemaquid Oyster Festivals and the Common Ground Fair.
“Its nobody’s fault that our event got rained out so we can’t step on somebody else,” Bryant said.
Bryant hastened to add that although postponed, there would definitely be a rummage sale this year. The annual fundraiser is the biggest single benefit for Miles Memorial Hospital and helps purchase badly needed supplies and equipment.
“We will do it until the barn is empty,” Bryant said. “We will have a sale even if we have to have it in bits and pieces.”
“These are hard times for people and the hospital needs the League’s help this year more than any other year,” Bryant said. “That is what the rummage sale is all about. It’s giving money to the hospital for non budgeted items.”
Although a great crew of volunteers is standing by waiting on the date, Bryant said more hands are always welcome. Volunteers are especially needed to help picking up donations before the sale.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the rummage sale or for more information is invited to call 563-1331.
