While grandmother shops at the Coupeville Lions Club garage sale Saturday, Luke Lewis Carlson, 8, son of Angie and Stig Carlson, takes a break to try out a pool table. - K.C. Pohtilla / Whidbey News-Times
K.C. Pohtilla / Whidbey News-Times
While grandmother shops at the Coupeville Lions Club garage sale Saturday, Luke Lewis Carlson, 8, son of Angie and Stig Carlson, takes a break to try out a pool table.

Coupeville Lions venture guesses of garage sale total


July 3, 2008 · Updated 5:04 PM 

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The Coupeville Lions Club annual garage sale fundraiser brought in excited shoppers and a pile of money this weekend. The total amount of cash raised won’t be released until Wednesday evening at a dinner for the workers, but that hasn’t stopped Lions members from guessing.

Lions members have a jar and for $1 a guess can be added. Warren Ivy, a club member, said guesses range from $23,000 to $41,000.

“We had a pretty good morning rush — there were a lot of people lined up to go inside and start shopping,” Ivy said. He estimated that several hundred shoppers attended throughout the weekend.

Along with the assortment of books, toys and antiques, a Jaguar Sedan went for $2,800 and a nice Yamaha piano sold for $1,500.

The big items helped the cause.

“We have to sell a lot of dishes to make that much money,” Ivy said.

All the boats and lawnmowers “went like hotcakes,” said Ivy.

However, many items didn’t sell. If homes couldn’t be found for them, they were taken to the dump. This is normal for the sale, and some usable items are sold at the landfill.

“I think we had a pretty good turnout. There were a lot of people on Saturday shopping and a lot of people on Sunday,” Ivy said. “We certainly had good weather for it.”

Sixty to 70 Lions members and other volunteers helped out at the event. Navy personnel assisted with set-up and clean-up. Ivy said they always do a good job and their efforts are appreciated.

Wednesday evening, July 2, the workers will celebrate at Coupeville Town Park with hamburgers and the grand revelation of the amount of money raised.

“I think we did alright,” Ivy said.

As always, the Central Whidbey community and projects to aid vision and hearing efforts worldwide will benefit from the Lions’ famous garage sale.

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