Rummage Sale Raises Funds For Humane Society June 17-18 By Mike Shands Dee Dundon shows off one of the rummage sale’s more devilish items. Photos by Mike Shands. Watauga Humane Society volunteer Whitley Clawson practices on one of two organs that will be available during the rummage sale. Humane society volunteers help organize and price kitchen items. Some of the best bargains in the High Country are just days away. The Watauga Humane Society will hold 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. Hundreds of humane society volunteers are donating their time and energy this week to help unload, organize and price thousands of items for sale at the armory. “One of our members drove up from Florida and brought her daughter up from Florida to help this year,” said Dee Dundon, one of the rummage sale’s co-chairwomen. “That’s pretty awesome.” After less than two days of unloading and sorting the armory already brimmed with enough rummage for a sale June 14. “It’s only our second day, and we’re already looking full,” Dundon said. “We still have another storage unit and a good portion of the barn to bring over and unload. Things are very organized, though.” Some of the more unusual items available during the sale include two organs, a keyboard synthesizer, a boxing punching bag, a mailbox on a metal pole, a miniature water cooler, a decorative ceramic elephant, a large bird cage and ice cream cone decorative lights. Other items will include a felt bunny basket, a decorative scarecrow, a plastic owl to scare snakes away, hanging wooden fish, an old coal bucket, a luggage carrier for the top of a car, canning jars, a dart board and a portable massager. There will also be a large track for a battery-operated car that children can ride in. One thing the humane society is lacking, though, is a vehicle to auction. “We still haven’t gotten a car or truck donated for an auction,” Dundon said. “We would really like to have one that’s in working condition so we can auction it.” Those donating a vehicle can claim its Blue Book value as a tax deduction. Each day of the sale the humane society will sell sausage biscuits and coffee in the morning and hot dogs and veggie dogs in the afternoon. Soft drinks and orange-flavored drinks will be available all day. Another way the humane society will raise funds during the rummage sale is by holding a raffle for two quilts. One quit is mostly handmade and features two cats embroidered in the middle. The other one, donated by Shannon’s Curtain Bed & Bath, is in red, white and blue and features a floral pattern. Tickets for the quilt raffle are $1 apiece, and each ticket will have two chances of winning a quilt. The drawing will be June 18. Those entering don’t have to be present to win. For pictures of the quilts look online at the humane society’s website. All proceeds from the rummage sale will benefit the animals at the humane society’s shelter. The rummage sale features a wide variety of items for sale, including linens, tools, exercise equipment and furniture and women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. Other items available will include pet supplies, skis, books, working electronic items, kitchen accessories, computers, stereo equipment, shoes, purses, belts, bicycles, lamps, antiques, jewelry, artwork, toys and holiday merchandise. This year’s furniture tent will still be located behind the armory, but it has been moved to a different area behind the building. The humane society is still accepting donations of items, but it requests that no hide-a-beds, console televisions, inoperable appliances or mattresses without beds be donated. Those donating items can drop them off at the armory through Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. Those who can’t drop off items can schedule a pickup by contacting Dundon. There is also a need for volunteers 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. 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.