Humane Society Rummage Sale Approaches Annual Fundraiser Features Variety Of Items By Mike Shands Volunteers help sort items before last year’s rummage sale. Photo by Mike Shands. Brand new wooden blinds, at least one vehicle, an organ and Styrofoam peanuts – those are just some of the items available at this year’s Watauga Humane Society rummage sale. The humane society will hold its 23rd annual rummage sale Aug. 20 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the National Guard Armory in Boone. One of the society’s two largest fundraisers each year, the rummage sale boasts a wide variety of items for sale – from appliances to clothes to sporting goods to kitchen items. Dee Dundon, the humane society’s president, said some of the items already donated for the sale include at least four boxes of brand new wooden blinds. “They’re beautiful,” she said. “We also have a musical organ that works that someone is donating. We just have to go pick it up. Someone also brought in two large bags of Styrofoam peanuts. Other items available at the sale will include shoes, dishes, skis, furniture, books, records, jewelry, Christmas crafts, linens, toys and many more categories. “We have a lot of very nice clothes. They’re beautiful,” Dundon said. “We go through them, and if they are dirty or stained or torn we don’t even put them out.” Dundon said the prices at this year’s rummage sale will be lower than those at previous sales, including clothes. “We will be selling most clothes, except for boutique items, for $3 a bag all day Friday and $1.50 all day Saturday,” she said. This year’s rummage sale will continue the tradition of offering at least one vehicle for auction, Dundon said. Someone recently donated a 1986 Honda Civic for the auction, which the society will hold Aug. 21. “I am hoping for more vehicle donations,” Dundon said. “It’s hard to make much money off a quarter a piece for things or a few dollars a bag. It takes a lot of money to raise the equivalent of a vehicle.” The humane society is still accepting vehicles for this year’s auction. Any vehicles donated should be running, dependable and safe. Dundon said the humane society doesn’t need any more low-priced items donated, but will still accept working appliances and other higher-priced items. Other Ways To Help The humane society needs volunteers the week of the sale to help sort, organize and price items. Those interested can come to the armory between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday or contact Dundon. Another way to assist the humane society is by making a financial donation. In fact this is a preferred method of helping the society. Anyone donating funds should make checks payable to Watauga Humane Society and mail them to Dr. Jan Watson – Treasurer, Watauga Humane Society, 200 Casey Lane, Boone, N.C., 28607. To donate a vehicle contact Dundon at (828) 264-9116 or send her an e-mail at deedundon@boone.net. For more information about the humane society look online at www.wataugahumanesociety.org. Capital Campaign Increasing the need to raise funds this year is the humane society’s ongoing capital campaign to raise $315,000 to pay for more than 13 acres of land that will serve as the shelter’s new location. The site, located along Don Hayes Road about four miles from Boone on Old Highway 421 South, is between Rutherwood Baptist Church and the Watauga Livestock Market. It will eventually take the place of the humane society’s current location at 200 Casey Lane in Boone, which is at the end of the Greenway Trail next to the town’s wastewater treatment facility. The shelter’s normal operating hours are 12:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Its phone number is (828) 264-7865. Dundon said the humane society’s Bare Bones Boutique thrift shop will be closed Aug. 14-25 because of the rummage sale.