Meadowlark Hills Market, an annual sale of household items, has been reinvented this year. An auction is taking its place!

Please mark your calendars for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1, at Cico Park’s Pottorf Hall. Proceeds benefit the Meadowlark Hills Foundation’s Good Samaritan Fund, which assists residents in Meadowlark Hills healthcare households who have outlived their financial resources. Vern Gannon of Gannon Auctions is donating his time and that of his staff members so that more auction revenue will go toward the fund. 

Part of my duties as Development Director has been to meet with residents and family members during their down-sizing processes, and I’ve had the pleasure to work over the past year with many cheerful givers. A variety of sofas, chairs, tables, desks, dressers and lamps have been stacked as high as is safe in three storage units around Manhattan, and on the morning of Sept. 1, Pat Callaghan and a team of movers will load the contents of our three units and haul the goods to Pottorf. Pat also is generously donating his time and the use of his truck and trailers.

Because the Market has been an annual event in August or September for several years, it has come to my attention that several residents have been saving items in anticipation of a sale. Those items may be donated again this year, and apt. 401 has been tentatively reserved as a collection point. (If Kinzie Jo Zimmerman sells this apartment, we’ll need to move our donation drop-off location – a great obstacle to overcome!))

Donations will be accepted from 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. A limited number of smaller items, such as glassware and knick-knacks, will be sold at the auction. Anything not reserved for the auction will be taken to Trinity Presbyterian Church, one of our six founding churches, for their annual rummage sale on Aug. 29. We will not accept clothing, shoes, books and outdated electronic equipment, such as old TVs. Flat-screen models are welcome.

If you have larger donations that cannot be brought to #401, please contact Becky at 323-3843 to arrange a pick-up time. Anyone may donate!

Volunteers are needed the day of the auction to arrange small items on tables and dust off furniture, etc., but no pricing of items is needed. What a time-saver! If you’re willing to help during the morning of Sept. 1, please contact Becky. Transportation to and from Pottorf Hall will be provided.