The Yedidya Bazaar finally arrived. Yesterday and today from 3pm till 9pm. On Saturday evening a group of volunteers went in to sort out masses of donated clothes, shoes, toys, books, dvds, and household items. This is what they saw.
I went in to help with the morning shift and most of it had been done.
People came. There was a lovely atmosphere. People sat on the floor to read the books.
At the end of the day they had taken over 6,000 shekels. That means over 3,000 items went to new homes.
There were coats in excellent condition, hardly worn shoes, tops and skirts with the labels still attached. There were tables piled high with baby things and not just clothes - booster seats, high chairs, cot sheets. There were clothes for teenager boys, clothes for teenage girls, women's clothes, men's clothes. There was even a table of school uniforms from some of the local schools.
There was bedding, there were table cloths, tea towels, blankets, cloth table napkins. There were household appliances, dishes, costume jewellery. There were novels and non-fiction books, children's books, dvds and even vidoes (bless). There were cuddly toys and dolls, boxed games and puzzles, and toys toys toys.
I went back this morning to sort out and tidy up for day two - the final day. All the boxes of stuff that we'd put under the tables, because there was no room to put everything out the day before, were unpacked and more clothes had been left overnight. The toys were pretty much emptied out the first day and there were not many household items left.
I kept seeing DD's clothes that I had donated. First reaction: awww that was ours. Second reaction: hey! Why didn't anyone want our stuff? Then I remembered that it was impossible to see everything on the first day as there was just so much. After over 3,000 items had been sold last night we could spread it all out a bit more today.
There're still over 3 hours to go folks. It closes at 9pm. Everything for 2 shekels!
I bought two pairs of nearly new tennis-shoe style sneakers for DD and a pair of wellington boots for her for next year. A dvd of Antz (for DD) and two Maeve Bincheys (me) from the book dept. For me I found three t-shirts never worn, a black skirt with the label still attached, and a new pair of mock-leather gloves. Grand total 22 shekels (3 pounds 66).
I'll update you on the final tally in the comments tomorrow. Everyone should have a Yedidya Bazaar in their lives.
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| A whole room full of bags of donated 'stuff' |
I went in to help with the morning shift and most of it had been done.
People came. There was a lovely atmosphere. People sat on the floor to read the books.
At the end of the day they had taken over 6,000 shekels. That means over 3,000 items went to new homes.
There were coats in excellent condition, hardly worn shoes, tops and skirts with the labels still attached. There were tables piled high with baby things and not just clothes - booster seats, high chairs, cot sheets. There were clothes for teenager boys, clothes for teenage girls, women's clothes, men's clothes. There was even a table of school uniforms from some of the local schools.
There was bedding, there were table cloths, tea towels, blankets, cloth table napkins. There were household appliances, dishes, costume jewellery. There were novels and non-fiction books, children's books, dvds and even vidoes (bless). There were cuddly toys and dolls, boxed games and puzzles, and toys toys toys.
I kept seeing DD's clothes that I had donated. First reaction: awww that was ours. Second reaction: hey! Why didn't anyone want our stuff? Then I remembered that it was impossible to see everything on the first day as there was just so much. After over 3,000 items had been sold last night we could spread it all out a bit more today.
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| Babywear on day 2 - loads left and refolded nicely by me |
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| Women's tops and trousers on day 2 - beautifully sorted by beautiful Annabel |
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| Still plenty of dresses, skirts, shirts and jackets hanging up and shoes underneath Children's clothes at the sides sorted by gender |
I bought two pairs of nearly new tennis-shoe style sneakers for DD and a pair of wellington boots for her for next year. A dvd of Antz (for DD) and two Maeve Bincheys (me) from the book dept. For me I found three t-shirts never worn, a black skirt with the label still attached, and a new pair of mock-leather gloves. Grand total 22 shekels (3 pounds 66).
I'll update you on the final tally in the comments tomorrow. Everyone should have a Yedidya Bazaar in their lives.
That sounds like a great place for a rummage... Will you see people wearing your donations in weeks to come, that's the question. I used to see them occasionally when we lived in SW London, used to make me smile! I wonder who used to see us in theirs? :D
ReplyDeleteMostly people come in from poorer areas where we advertise specifically because it helps them to kit out their families for almost free.
DeleteIndeed eveyrone should have one of these bizares in their life, I've seen you write about this before and it is a wonderful concept. Mich x
ReplyDeleteI know isn't it? And we raised over 10,000 shekels which means about 1,700 pounds for charity and over 5,000 items re-homed.
DeleteGoodness you're right - we should all have one of these in our lives. How brilliant- and that it stretches over enough time to get to the bottom of it all! Well done you :)
ReplyDeleteYes, in some ways the people who come on the second day get an easier visit (except that the toys were gone by then).
DeleteMost definitely we should all have one! I loved helping out at my son's Christmas Fair this year and our parish has a Christmas Fair too. Once a year is all....
ReplyDeleteOnce a year is enough. :)
DeleteIt is a great idea: I hope that most of the stuff found a new home by the end of the day x
ReplyDeleteThere is always loads left but it gets passed on to local charity shops who don't have a 2-day deadline.
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