Great Glebe Garage Sale just around the corner – don’t throw out your stuff!

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Scenes from the Great Glebe Garage Sale 2016. Photos: Al Patrick

by Colette Downie

Spring is on its way and that means the Glebe’s annual neighbourhood-wide garage and porch sale is just around the corner.

One of the highlights of the year for many in Ottawa, this year’s Great Glebe Garage Sale (GGGS) is planned for Saturday, May 26, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine.

Shoppers from across Ottawa and beyond come to the Glebe to wander through the neighbourhood and enjoy the festive atmosphere. It’s always fascinating to see what’s up for sale. Bargain hunters come in search of rare or quirky finds, including art, books, street signs, records, plants, furniture, clothing, appliances, collectibles, jewellery and more. It’s a great opportunity to furnish a dorm room or a first apartment and a fabulous place to find baby items, sports equipment and toys.

The sale has a reputation as one of the first and possibly largest neighbourhood recycling events, and is one of the great things about living in the Glebe. It’s an easy, fun and practical opportunity to help our community while recycling and de-cluttering. Vendors, visitors and businesses are asked to contribute 10 per cent or more of sales to the Ottawa Food Bank. Last year, the sale raised a generous $14,000 in donations! Donations can be made either online at www.ottawafoodbank.ca or by mail.

Bank Street and Lansdowne merchants also join in the festivities with their own sidewalk sales and special events. Over the years, the sale has also become a wonderful, spontaneous, neighbourhood festival attracting artists and musicians and foodies, all while enjoying the (usually) sunny spring weather.

Planning to sell food?

Selling food requiring cooking, especially meat, needs careful planning. City of Ottawa food inspectors will be on-site on sale day; it is important to know and comply with the city’s food regulations to make sure you meet the inspectors’ expectations. The city’s website www.ottawa.ca provides more information and be sure to fill out the Application Form for Food Service at a Special Event at least two weeks before the sale. If you have any questions about selling food, please contact healthsante@ottawa.ca.

School, church or other
organization with spots for vendors or taking donations?

Interest by outside vendors is stronger than ever this year and inquiries are already coming in from artisans, local businesses and others looking for space. If you’re a community organization planning to make spaces available, accept donations or offer parking, please let me know so I can post your contact information on the Glebe Community Association website in the FAQs about the sale.

Electronics recycling and pickup

Glebe Collegiate Institute will be holding its popular free electronics drop-off and fundraiser on sale day as well as all day Sunday, May 27. Electronics accepted will include: TVs, VCRs, DVD players, all phones, all printers, all cameras, clock radios, e-readers, all speakers and all manner of computer equipment and peripheral devices.

If you have difficulty moving or transporting your electronics to the school, please contact Judith at judith.slater@ocdsb.ca to arrange pickup.

Heritage plaques

For the fifth year, homeowners are encouraged to prepare and install a simple temporary plaque or sign presenting a brief history of their home and its homeowners. Interested in participating in this annual event? Visit www.glebeca.ca for information.

Please remember

There are no road closures during the GGGS, so please keep the roads clear and drive carefully if you need to get in or out of the neighbourhood on that day. However, on some streets, parking will be prohibited even with a parking permit and reserved for emergency vehicles.

After the sale

Once the day is over, please be ready to tidy up and pack things away. Place any unsold items on the lawn for a couple of hours with a sign saying it’s free and then post them on a site like www.UsedOttawa.com, Kijiji Ottawa, https://groups.freecycle.org/group/OttawaON-Freecycle/description or contact the Salvation Army.

Go to the Glebe Community Association’s FAQs on the Great Glebe Garage Sale at www.glebeca.ca/great-glebe-garage-sale-faqs-2/ to get information and tips. If you have questions, contact me, Colette Downie, at gggs@glebeca.ca.

Colette Downie is the volunteer coordinator of the Great Glebe Garage Sale for the Glebe Community Association.

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