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Student Anna Hanley, 20, was over the moon when hundreds turned up to a garage sale she organised to raise money for Australian bushfire relief. The sale raised more than $10,000.
Women rummage for bargains at the garage sale.
Hundreds of eager shoppers showed up for a massive garage sale at a private home in Jones Road, Omaha, on the lookout for bargains and to boost fundraising efforts in the wake of devastating Australian bushfires.
Student Anna Hanley, 20, organised the sale at her parents’ home on Sunday, February 9, after seeing the suffering wrought on people and animals by the fires.
After word got out on Facebook and local media, dozens of individuals and businesses contributed thousands of items for the sale, including furniture, clothes, books, electrical goods and shoes.
The sale itself raised more than $10,000. The money will be sent to support Nymboida, a small community of 300 in New South Wales.
A wall of fire ripped through the settlement on November 8, destroying 85 homes.
Anna says the sale went brilliantly, especially in the first few hours.
“When we opened the gates, it was amazing to see the cars and people just flood in,” she says.
But Anna admits organising the event was hard work.
“I really did not appreciate how much stuff would be dropped off, but it was definitely all worth it,” she says.
Meanwhile, Mahurangi Bushfire Aid, founded by Warkworth resident Paul Wilson and spearheaded by Warkworth Lions, has raised an additional $31,000 for bushfire relief following a variety of fundraising activities, including a golf tournament, cricket matches and collections at concerts and farmers’ markets,
Around $21,000 of the Mahurangi Bushfire Aid money will be distributed through Lions International and about $10,000 will go to rural fire services in Australia.
