Call it the grandaddy of all garage sales.
The Sandman Inn and Suites Prince George held its fifth annual charity garage sale this weekend in the hotel's underground parkade. This year proceeds from the two-day event are going to support Prince George Community Policing.
"It will help support programs such as Citizens on Patrol," community policing coordinator Wendy Moore said. "It will help with programs like our Friendly Phones program... and purchase brochures and information packages. We don't get funding for those kinds of things."
Moore said the society is hoping the event would match or beat last year's fundraising total of $8,250. The event did over $6,000 in sales on Saturday alone, however the final total was not available as of press time.
"This is some desperately-needed extra funding to ensure our programs continue to run," Moore said.
Sandman general manager Dave Richinski said the event started as a way for the hotel and its staff to be more involved in the community. Richinski said he's impressed every year by the response from volunteers and the community.
"At the beginning of the year we pick a needy cause. We start putting out advertisements with the name of the charity, asking for donations. We just ask the public to bring their merchandise," he said. "There is 135 tables full of merchandise. You can just see how much stuff there is."
The event has raised $7,264 to $10,270 a year for the SPCA, Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, Make a Wish Foundation and Senior Citizen's Recreation Centres.
"Even if it's a big organization, the money stays here in Prince George," Richinski said.
