Small town market giving support

WHEN Wendy Jagger decided she needed to get rid of some things around the house, she chose to dedicate her decluttering efforts to a good cause.

This Saturday, Ms Jagger, together with over seven other locals will be running their market day garage sale at the Garibaldi Hall, with funds going to support flood-affected families in Lismore, New South Wales.

Having recently moved, and with friends living in the flood-affected regions, Ms Jagger said her need to tidy up her stuff has “snowballed” into something more.

“They’re still in dire straits over there. There’s people displaced. Here I am with all my stuff and there’s them with no homes to go to,” she said.

“This can hopefully go some way in helping with that, and on the other side of it, it’ll be nice to have a bit of community involvement with some of my friends coming along to sell some stuff too.

“It’s really escalated into a bit of a community event with what we’ve got on offer.”

For a gold coin donation, people will be able to browse the stalls from 10am to 3pm, which will comprise everything from clothing to crockery to bric-a-brac.

Proceeds will go towards food provider Trees not Bombs, as well as the Resilient Lismore community group with other organisations to be determined.

Alongside the market garage sale, some of the stalls will stock hobbyist items like crocheting, costumes, handmade spectacles, and artwork.

Free pony rides will be available for the kids from 11am alongside entertainment by local artists and a barbecue and picnic availabilities.

Ms Jagger is considering a second “ad hoc” market day in late June, and said it’s nice to see the community rallying behind a good cause.

“In the whole context, this is bringing people together because the proceeds will be going straight to the people in need,” she said.

“It’s exciting to be doing something with friends knowing it’s a positive outcome on the whole, and it’s just nice to be getting rewarded by giving.”