Great Glebe Garage Sale

Making the 2012 Great Glebe Garage Sale Even Greater

The word is out...and now every day there are several emails asking... when is the Great Glebe Garage Sale? SATURDAY MAY 26th, 2012 !
If I live out of town, can I still participate? YES!
How can I get a table? The Glebe Community Centre and local schools usually rent out space and we will link you. Am I allowed to set up in a public park? NO!!!
As we get closer to the date, the questions may include: How can I donate goods to someone else’s sale? How do I get there? Where can I park?

These questions and more are answered on the FAQ page.

In every case, along with the factual answer to the question, every opportunity is used to tell inquirers that the GGGS is a charitable event in support of the Ottawa Food Bank. Since the inception of the sale in 1986, the Glebe Community Association has endorsed donations to the Ottawa Food Bank as part of this incredibly festive event. After all, it is about building community! We have encouraged vendors to donate 10 per cent of their proceeds, and bargain shoppers to donate some of their savings. In turn, the Ottawa Food Bank issues receipts for donations of $10.00 or more and is better able to serve the 43,000 people that need and use their services each month.

The combined effort of the Glebe community and the Glebe Business Group raised over $11,000 last year, and we hope this year’s sale will significantly increase this amount. The Great Glebe Garage Sale has taken on a life of its own, involving people across the greater Ottawa region. In spite of this, the level of donations over the past few years is not increasing. The Glebe Community Association is interested in highlighting the original purpose of this now famous ‘special event’ to increase our collective support to the Food Bank. In order to do this, we are calling for volunteers to join in the cause.

There are a number of exciting volunteer opportunities available:

  • Interested in media? We need someone who could write a press release, handle inquiries from local community radio and print media outlets and find suitable interview candidates. A great experience for a budding journalist!
  • Interested in public/community relations? Be a connector: Serve as liaison with the Glebe Business Group, City Hall, the Glebe Community Centre and local schools. If you’d rather work alone from home and on computer, you can respond to email inquiries and provide information on our neighbourhood and city to visitors and vendors.
  • Interested in the issue of hunger in our community? Work with the Ottawa Food Bank volunteers to distribute information in advance of the sale to promote awareness about the work of the Food Bank, or canvass vendors and collect donations on the day of the sale.

All are encouraged to join in to make this year’s sale the best ever! High school and university students can get valuable experience through volunteering and develop skills which are transferable to the workplace (and will look great on your résumé for summer job hunting!)

The Great Glebe Garage Sale is one of the many things that make living in this vibrant community so wonderful. Let’s work together to ensure that people in need in our wider community also benefit from the fun of buying and selling on May 26th.

For more information or to offer help, contact by email at: GGGS@glebeca.ca.

Be sure to read the FAQ page.

Watch the GCA website for more information.