Mega Garage Sale draws big crowd

Pickings were lean by the time Sue and Jack Ryan arrived at the Homes of Hope Mega Garage Sale on Saturday afternoon, but they found a free and rather forlorn old bear for which they happily donated $5. Photo / George Novak

RAIN failed to dampen huge public enthusiasm for Tauranga's Homes of Hope Mega Garage Sale, with people so keen to snap up a bargain that they started queuing three and a-half hours before the doors opened on Saturday.

Funding and development manager Vanessa Harmens said they were so busy that she had no idea the weather had turned so terrible. "It was chocka - we had a big influx of people."

Hundreds poured in when the doors under the main grandstand at Tauranga Racecourse opened at 10am, and she barely had time to draw breath it was so busy. By 1pm half of the goods had been sold.

The garage sale was the culmination of months of work to raise money for the charity that gives abused and neglected children a chance in life.

Ms Harmens said they expected to raise at least $10,000 from the sale in which people dropped off better quality goods at Z service stations, or items were picked up by Lions Club members.

The fashion area included new labelled clothing donated by Tauranga boutiques, plus a big selection of pre-loved clothes.

Ms Harmens said the big turnout meant they were able to finish earlier than planned. "Everyone was asking when the next one will be," she said.

Homes of Hope might make it a biannual event.