Clayton News Daily

Jonesboro resident Elizabeth Valiando (right) asks Gwen Lyle, the fundraising coordinator for the Clayton County Humane Society, about a vintage Phantom of the Opera poster donated for the animal adoption group’s Fall Yard Sale.

Stockbridge — Gwen Lyle is still surprised at how many items have been donated for this weekend’s Clayton County Humane Society yard sale.

Lyle, the animal adoption agency’s fundraising coordinator, was worried two weeks ago that she may not have enough items donated to have a successful sale. She only had one and a half of the group’s three storage units full.

A few well-placed stories in Clayton News Daily and some ads on the county’s community access channel later and now she has an overflow of items to sell, she said. All three storage units, her garage and two trucks are full of items to sell.

“We’re going to have a great yard sale,” said Lyle. “The public has really come out and supported us with their donations. Once people learned we were really in a bad spot, they just started calling nonstop and donating stuff.”

The Humane society’s fall yard sale will be held Saturday, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., in the vocational building parking lot at Jonesboro High School, 7728 Mt. Zion Blvd., in Jonesboro.

Lyle said items available for purchase will range from vintage furniture, to collections of Beanie Babies and commemorative plates, and from a brand new dishwasher, to an antique sideboard. There will also be several pieces of artwork, a vanity, a TV, baby furniture and a basic household appliances, she added.

Many items are available for $20 or less. The yard sale is important for the Humane Society because it is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. The money raised at the sale will be used to help cover operating expenses at the no-kill animal shelter, which receives no local, state or federal funding to keep its doors open.

As Lyle showed off the items donated for the yard sale, former Clayton County Humane Society President Bob Valiando and his wife, Elizabeth, came by. Elizabeth Valiando saw a framed picture of a vintage poster for the stage production of Phantom of the Opera and bought it on the spot for $25.

Her husband said it would be a present for their granddaughter, who is an avid theater aficionado.

Bob Valiando, who is still active in the group, said it is important for people to support the group as much as possible, to help animals in Clayton County.

“If you like flea-market sales, it’s a way to show your support for what we’re doing for the animals,” he said.