By Isle of Wight Observer
If you want to grab yourself a bargain, and raise money for good causes at the same time, then make sure you get along to Shanklin Rotary Club’s annual January sale of donated goods.
The sale has been organised by a team of around 40 Rotary volunteers for many decades and, over that time, has become a local institution. Pre-Covid the two-week event regularly raised £40,000. Although this plunged to around £17,000 for the first sale after the pandemic, largely due to a smaller venue and storm damage, it is hoped that this year takings will rise once again.
An eclectic mix of goods has again been donated by the public, including furniture, toys, electricals (all PAT tested), clothes, linen, pictures, books, CDs, bric-a-brac, tools, gardening and sports equipment and Christmas items. There is not much they don’t accept and sell on, although they hope not to repeat a previous year’s mistake when they sold a ladder belonging to the host venue!
A spokesman said: “It never ceases to amaze us what people give us. And to see someone gleefully spring on something they need, can’t afford or want and can re-use, is it’s own reward time and again.”
This year, the event will take place between January 9 and 20 at the YMCA’s Winchester House, on Sandown Road in Shanklin between 10:00-16:00 (sale closed 14th & 15th). There will be free parking and refreshments available.