Metchosin is about to get mighty.
The 16th annual Mighty Garage Sale returns to the rural community May 23 and 24, raising money and awareness through one of the West Shore’s biggest garage sales of the year.
Metchosin Community Association board member Johnny Carline said the event, featuring thousands of donated items, is living proof of how the people here get behind their community.
“We get thousands of people coming out and they spend the week (before) cleaning out their garage and the week (of) filling up their garage again,” he said, laughing. “It has become an amazing community event … they are great fun.”
Carline said the event is the MCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The approximately $16,000 raised in 2014 accounted for half of the association’s annual budget.
“It’s one of those special days of the year you put on the calendar, and if you have visitors from out of town, you don’t apologize. You say ‘you’ve come on the right weekend.’”
The MCA helps host and fund numerous programming initiatives, including maintaining the Metchosin Community House, subsidizing seniors and parents programs, and working with the art and music community in Metchosin.
Carline, a former chief administrative officer for Metro Vancouver and a Metchosin resident of four years, said the weekend event will see everything from power tools and clothing to old records and other “treasures” up for sale. All items are screened and priced before being placed on one of the dozens of tables put up for the thousands of guests expected. The hope is to raise more than $15,000 again this year, Carline said, adding he hopes similar community support will help them get there.
“It’s just an opportunity to browse the equivalent of a massive shopping mall, but instead of a mall, it is a massive outdoor garage sale,” he said. “It would take weeks to see an equivalent range of goods going to (individual garage sales).”
Donated items can be dropped off to the tent at the Metchosin Community House parking lot, 4430 Happy Valley Rd., between 10 am. and 2 p.m. until May 22. Items not accepted include old shoes, mattresses, baby chairs, exercise equipment, TVs, pillows, soiled clothing and large appliances. For a full list, visit metchosincommunityhouse.com. The garage sale runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.