The BIG SALE: Survival Guide and History

The Big Sale

Rosie W.’s Guide to the Legends Sale

*Get in line before 8am if you need excitement
*Wear comfortable closed toe shoes
*It’s good to bring your own sturdy bag or rolling cart
*Don’t carry a purse. Use a fanny pack or a wallet in a pocket.
*Prepare for heat and humidity inside

Now, where to begin?
OUTSIDE:
The outside area is usually jam packed with plastic containers, plastic racks, and other storage items as well as dishware and leftover dorm food (phewy, no ramen noodles for the Rosies).
The outside area that faces Red Onion is usually where the furniture and rugs are displayed.
INSIDE:
Front right: costumes, makeup, wrapping paper, jewelry, odds and ends.
Front left: posters
Mid left: big draw here with electronics, fans, and assorted “musts” for dorm rooms, so you will be in competition with new students and their parents.
Middle/middle: Clothing. Lots of clothing, prepare to dig and bump elbows. Some of the clothing may be in piles on the floor.
Middle right: usually shoes, but last year it changed a bit. This is a stage area, so you have to climb onto this platform, and it can be chaotic.
Back: Tons of bedding and linens. Again, prepare to dig.

Bathrooms are in the very back of this space.

Prices are usually cut in the late morning.

Remember that proceeds go to various local charities, so don’t fret if you over stuff. There’s always someone who could use one of your treasures.
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On the eve of the BIG SALE at ASU, I, Rosie W., wanted to look into the history of the sale as well as the community involvement component. Over 350 volunteer hours were accumulated in order to put on this year’s sale.
This information was gathered using the following three web sites with much of it taken directly:
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/189
http://act.appstate.edu/bigsale
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192
“This event is open to the whole community and benefits the energy efficiency initiatives of 4 local organizations and a scholarship for ASU students. This year's energy efficient mini-grants recipients are: Western Youth Network, Mountain Alliance, Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center, and Appalachian Child Development Center.”
BIG Sale Fun Facts:
Over 65 TONS of material was diverted from landfills last year
· $13,500 was raised to benefit the energy conservation initiatives of four local community partners*
· Over the past 10 years, thousands of students, staff, faculty, and community members got amazing deals on carpet, furniture, electronics, and so much more!
http://act.appstate.edu/bigsale
This event has a long history spanning over the last decade. “The BIG Sale was started in 2000 by a student, Natalie Knight, who realized the large amounts of "trash" that students were throwing away at the end of the school year. She started by collecting items herself and donating them to OASIS, a domestic abuse shelter. The volume of stuff became too much for her or OASIS to handle so she hooked up with a group called Dump and Run, a national organization that helps organize events like The BIG Sale on college campuses.
The following year, in 2001, was the inaugural BIG Sale in the form that it is today. The first sale took place on Duck Pond Field and raised $3342.27 for Watauga Department of Social Services Foster Care program.”
The event has continued to grow over the years with an expansion not only in the funds that were raised, but also in the scope of the local non-profits that benefit from it. The following details were taken directly from the web page http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192.
2002: $3100 for Watauga 4-H
2003: $3700 for Stop the Litter! Initiative
2004: $5300 for Mountain Alliance and for New River Earth Institute
2005: $6300 for Legal Aid of North Carolina (Boone) and High Country Amigos
2006: $7100 for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council and Hospice
2007: $10,400 for Ashe County Partnership for Children, Hunger and Health Coalition, The Children's Playhouse, and The Hospitality House
**2007 marks the first year of the "Go Green to Save Green" mini-grant program for improving energy efficiency in the facilities of our community partner organizations.**
2008: $11000 for Mountain Pathways Montessori School, Mountain Alliance, WeCAN, and Legal Aid of North Carolina (Boone)
**Beginning in 2008, in addition to the energy efficiency mini-grants, proceeds from the BIG Sale also contribute to an on-campus fund established to promote international service-learning.**
2009: proceeds will benefit the Health and Hunger Coalition, The Children's Playhouse, Mountain Alliance, and Sugar Grove Developmental Dayschool
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/192
ASU runs a program called Don’t Throw It Away and this is the collection point beginning for the Big Sale.
How does it work?
Students are asked to donate items in good condition that they would normally throw away at the end of the year or that they don't need anymore. Mostly anything is accepted! From shower caddies, lamps, and futons to clean carpets and non-perishable food items.
These items are dropped off in designated boxes located on the first floor of each residence hall.
Items are picked up nightly during the final exam period by wonderful volunteers. Volunteers are comprised of students, staff, and community members.
Items are transported to Legend's where they are stored for the summer to be sold at the beginning of the fall semester at The BIG Sale.
http://act.appstate.edu/pagesmith/189

In conclusion, this sale is one of the highlights of the High Country garage sale season. Its benefits permeate the local community and environment on multiple levels. It is truly an EVENT worth attending. Hope to see you there. Happy hunting!