Cathedral Yard Sale 2020
When/Where is the Yard Sale?
The Yard Sale will be Saturday, September 12, 2020, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Contact Lisa Cantu for the address: (713) 222-2593 or [email protected]
Who does the Yard Sale benefit?
The money raised is given out as a grant to at least five low-income, first-year college students who apply for help with school expenses. The students do not have to be Cathedral members.
What can I donate?
The Latino Ministry Council is seeking donations of small electronics, appliances, and furniture (like chairs), as well as gently used clothes and shoes, kitchen items, and children’s toys.
Donations of large or heavy furniture or other large appliances cannot be accepted at this time.
How can I donate?
Drop-off donations are being accepted at the Cathedral through Wednesday, September 9. During the week, two set days and times have been identified to accept curbside drop-off donations:
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Tuesdays from 2-5 p.m.
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Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
We ask that donors pull up on San Jacinto street and call the Cathedral’s main number: (713) 222-2593. Then, a member of the Cathedral’s facilities staff will come out to the car and collect the donations. Donations being made during these set times will help to ensure everyone’s safety.
More questions? Contact Lisa Cantu at (713) 222-2593 or [email protected]
Read the July 2020 Bulletin article on the Yard Sale below:
It’s hard not to get excited when you hear organizer Sonia Velasquez talk about Christ Church Cathedral’s annual yard sale. Velasquez, a member of the Latino Ministry Council, has been a volunteer with the sale since its inception four years ago.
“There is a lot of energy leading up to it,” Velasquez says. “We work so hard!”
In past years, the sale has been a collaboration between the Latino Ministry Council and the Mission Outreach Council, but this is the second year it will be run by the Latino Ministry Council, with support as needed.
The Reverend Simón Bautista Betances, Canon Missioner for Latino Ministries, says that the idea for the sale originated as a Latino ministry initiative to generate funds for first-year college students. The money raised is given out as a grant to at least five students who apply for help with college expenses. The students do not have to be Cathedral members.
“The money is used for everything from buying an extra pair of shoes to paying for a plane ticket,” Bautista says. “These are low income students, maybe from a family where they are the first to go to college. They are trying to do their best to move up.”
In past years the yard sale has been held in June in order to take advantage of the spring cleaning inclination; but this year, due to COVID-19 concerns, it is planned for September 12. The location for this year’s sale has not been announced. Previously, it was held in a neighborhood at I-45 South and Park Place.
One thing that is for certain is the need to collect donations. Bautista says that they are downsizing — meaning they are not looking for big, heavy furniture items, due to the problems they create for pick up and transport. Small electronics, appliances, and furniture — like chairs — are welcome, as well as yard sale staples such as gently used clothes and shoes, kitchen items, and children’s toys.
Currently, collection is scheduled to start the first week in August. Donations will be received at the Cathedral and then moved to a storage facility off-site before being taken to the yard-sale location.
While the volunteer needs and structure might look a little different this year, volunteers will be needed to accept and transport donations, price and ready them for sale, and provide day of sale help. Safety concerns are paramount, and organizers are looking at the best ways to protect both donors and shoppers.
The most the sale has raised in any previous year is $2,700. Velasquez says that her favorite part of the yard sale is the announcement of
the total.
“I get most excited to know what the total was,” she says. “When I know, I start to divide in my mind to figure out how many people we can help.”
The Reverend Greg Seme, who serves as liaison to the Mission Outreach Council, says that he appreciates the yard sale’s ability to create a sense of community and fellowship between the members of the Cathedral and the neighborhoods.
“In order to have a great sale, there needs to be great organization,” Seme says. “In leading up to the sale, members who are chosen to be part of the organizing team are always in contact with each other to make sure that we have a smooth operation on the day of the drive.”
He says that having the yard sale in neighborhoods also allows members to do God’s mission — to evangelize.
“The most important thing for me is to know that we are doing all this to help youth who are getting ready to start college,” Seme says. “As part of being qualified to be a recipient of this small grant, we ask that each candidate submit an essay. It was amazing to see the kind of goals that these young people have. Reading their goals and expectations gives me the strength to go forth to make the sale as profitable as possible.”
Bautista says that the sale is a team effort that involves a lot of hours from all involved. It is successful because of enthusiastic volunteers like Sonia Velasquez, and because of the backing of the entire Cathedral congregation.
“The Latino Ministry Council is so grateful for the support, and the donations,” Bautista says.
Gary Krause, a member of the Mission Outreach Council, has been a yard sale volunteer for the past few years. He said he is always impressed with the involvement and commitment of those involved.
“We do things as a family,” Krause says. “It’s always a good time.” Krause says that the Mission Outreach Council will support the Latino Ministry volunteers again this year — “In prayer and in physical support.”
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