Teresa Williams
THOMASVILLE — Area residents and travelers looking for a good deal flocked to Saturday’s Thomasville Junior Service League Bargain Bazaar.
Dozens lined up prior to the doors opening at 8:30 a.m., aiming to be the first ones to have access items.
“There was already a line when I got here this morning,” JSL member Sanford Giemza said. “I’d say between 50 and 100 people were waiting at the door and the parking lot was full.”
President Jill Everett said the event had been busy the first two hours in and expected more bargain seekers in the last two.
“I think people are having a lot of fun but are also finding a lot of good deals, which I think is great in this economy,” she said.
The bazaar featured a variety of items, from clothing to exercise equipment and holiday wares to prom wear.
Hot-selling objects included baby items and furniture. In fact, by 10:30 a.m., only a couple of furniture pieces remained.
Sandra Stallings, a resident of Tallahassee, Fla., made the trek to Thomasville to search for baby clothes for her 8-month-old granddaughter, as well as things for her son and husband.
“I’ve found baby toys and clothes for her and I’m looking at some clothing for my son and husband,” she said. “I came out of curiosity but I’m glad I did because I found items I wanted at a good price. I think I’ll be able to get what I want and stay within my budget.”
Pelham residents M.J. Banks and Debbie Clark try to go to yard sales once a month. They heard about the bazaar at a morning sale and decided to swing by the event.
“I think they should have it every weekend,” Clark said. “It is a very good sale.”
Banks found items for her new apartment, including a coffee pot, knitting bag and linens. She suggested such an event once a month.
Event Co-Chair Mandy Dunham manned the cash register on the way out the door.
She said items not sold by closing time at 12:30 p.m. would be donated to local non-profits Halcyon Home, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Safe Haven.
The bazaar, held at the Thomasville Exchange Club Fairgrounds is non-profit civic organization JSL’s largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds will benefit local children but numbers will not be known until next week.
“I think we’ll do better than we predicted,” Dunham said.
