Humane Society Seeks Vehicle Donation For Rummage Sale Auction By Mike Shands Wanted: vehicle in good working condition. That’s what the Watauga Humane Society needs this month. This birdcage is one of the more unusual items available at this year’s Watauga Humane Society rummage sale. Photos by Mike Shands. More than a barnfull of items will be available at this year’s rummage sale. Humane society volunteers and staff members are hoping local automobile dealers or residents will donate vehicles for an auction it will hold during its 24th annual rummage sale fund-raiser Friday and Saturday, June 17-18 at Boone’s National Guard Armory from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. “We’ve got lots of rummage, but we really need a running vehicle,” said Dee Dundon, one of the rummage sale’s co-chairwomen. “It makes such a big difference because everything at the sale is like a quarter or a dollar, and one car can make a big difference – several hundred dollars. “It needs to be in good working condition so someone can drive it away.” Dundon said anyone donating a vehicle can claim it as an income tax deduction. “An accountant told me that you can get the Blue Book value of the car (as a deduction) when you donate it,” she said. All proceeds from the rummage sale will benefit the animals at the humane society’s shelter. “Our expenses keep going up and up,” Dundon said. Another way the humane society will raise funds during the rummage sale is by holding a raffle for two quilts. “One’s older and mostly handmade with two cats embroidered in the middle,” said Penny Gamblin, one of the sale’s organizers and the Bare Bones Boutique manager. “The other one is a brand new one. It’s in red, white and blue colors and is floral. It’s donated from Shannon’s Curtain Bed & Bath.” Tickets for the quilt raffle are $1 apiece, and each ticket will have two chances of winning a quilt. “We’ll be drawing on the second day of the rummage sale, and you don’t have to be present to win,” Gamblin said. “It’s a big money-maker, and a lot of people like the quilts.” For pictures of the quilts look online at the humane society’s website. The humane society will also raise funds each day by selling biscuits and coffee in morning and hot dogs and soft drinks in the afternoon. “It’s something new this year,” Gamblin said. “I think that’s going to be a good moneymaker for us.” Rummage Items Two of the more unusual items donated for the sale so far are a Hammond organ and an enormous birdcage “We have a beautiful bird cage for a large parrot,” Gamblin said. “It’s a very nice cage.” The sale will also feature clothes at $3 a bag. “It’s whatever you can fit in that bag,” Gamblin said. A variety of more expensive boutique clothing items will also be available for a slightly higher price. “We have a lot of ‘guy’ stuff, such as tools, plus stuff for your pets and a lot of exercise equipment,” Gamblin said. “We have beautiful linens, some donated by Shannon’s Curtain Bed & Bath.” The sale will also feature books, working electronic items, computers, stereo equipment, furniture, bicycles, lamps, antiques, jewelry, artwork, kitchen items, toys and holiday merchandise. “We just have everything,” Gamblin said. “My barn and two storage units are full of stuff. If we don’t have it, you all don’t need it.” The humane society will accept donations of those and other items the week prior to the sale, but it requests that no hide-a-beds, console televisions, inoperable appliances or mattresses without beds be donated. Those donating items should drop them off at the armory Monday, June 13 through Thursday, June 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They should not be dropped off at the boutique store. Those who can’t drop off items can schedule a pickup by contacting Dundon. There is also a need for volunteers the week of the sale to help sort and price items. For more information about the rummage sale, to volunteer or donate items contact Dundon at (828) 264-9116 or (828) 265-9567 or Gamblin at the boutique at (828) 264-7339. For more information about the humane society look online at www.wataugahumanesociety.org. The armory is located on Hunting Hills Lane near the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Complex off of State Farm Road.