There’s something so grassroots about volunteers fundraising on the front lawn, especially a sale featuring plants and baked goods as the main draw.
This isn’t a yard sale to clean out the family crawlspace or to put used cribs and strollers on the lawn. This sale has gone to the cats. All proceeds raised during the “Great American Plant and Bake Sale” are donated to local cat welfare charities: The Nobody’s Cats Foundation, Loving Care Cat Rescue and Castaway Critters.
A long-time volunteer for Castaway Critters, Will Forgy has hosted the event at his Uptown Harrisburg residence for eight years.
“I was fairly new to Castaway Critters and was thinking of ways that I could raise funds,” he said. “I have an extensive garden and like to grow flowers. So, the idea of having a plant sale popped into my head.”
Though this year’s attendance suffered from a few spring showers in May, the day’s sale still brought in about $4,500. Then the volunteers opened again for business on Sunday, raising another $1,000 just through word-of-mouth advertising. Other sales have pushed the total to more than $6,100.
All told, the sales have raised some $28,000 since 2010. Not bad for an unofficial group of volunteers.
Forgy’s residential yard sale boasted a garden selection comparable to a home improvement super-center. All homegrown flowers. All hand-assembled baskets. All home-baked goodies. All to benefit local cat welfare charities. The spring sale is both timed and geared for gifts for Mother’s Day.
Even with shelving units loaded precariously with flower baskets, these feline-loving volunteers welcome owners and their pets. The animals have their own tent, complete with catnip planted just for them. Sale attendees can visit the tent to meet adoptable pets that they might be charmed into taking home, um, fur-ever.
“I have found, over the years, that animal-lovers are most generous and kind-hearted,” said Connie Elias, who volunteers actively for all three charities receiving the proceeds.
She is also one of Forgy’s dedicated helpers.
“The yard sale has quite a good following, and it grows a little bit each year,” she said. “People are always asking when the next sale will be.”
Elias felt that the “Great American Plant and Bake Sale” is important in giving exposure to pet welfare organizations, companion pet and free-roaming community cats spay/neuter programs, as well as for promoting pet adoptions and responsible pet ownership. It also bonds community members together in backing a common cause.
Local small businesses and food stores supported the yard sale with donated raffle items and free printing services.
“Local veterinarians in the area were amazing sponsors,” Elias said.
The volunteers and sponsors chose to help certain animal charities because they admire the work they do. Nobody’s Cats Foundation runs a trap/neuter/return program to help stabilize the population of free-roaming community cats. Loving Care Cat Rescue rescues cats. Castaway Critters rescues both cats and dogs, placing them in a network of foster homes until they can be adopted.
In between all the fundraising they do for cat-related charities, these volunteers are hands-on with felines. Forgy manages adoption events for Castaway Critters. Elias fosters kittens in her home until they are adopted. Both have even adopted their own special felines through these rescues.
“The idea is to get them adopted out,” said Elias. “I have been very fortunate to have had wonderful veterinarians to help with care for these babies. I am so grateful for the loving people who welcome them into their loving hearts and homes as their lifelong companions.”
Future fundraising plans include a fall sale—the second annual mum sale.
“I would like to see that event grow a bit this year,” Elias said.
The Fall Mum & Bake Sale takes place Sept. 23, starting at 8 a.m., at 3407 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For more information on the group’s events, visit the Facebook page: The Great American Plant and Bake Sale.
Author: Gina Napoli
