Local Red Cross chapter seeking support: Sale planned to help generate dollars toward $30,000 goal

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Bill Campbell, director of the Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross, based out the North Gateway Mall in Spencer, stands among some of the many items that will be sold during Saturday's "Garage Sale" at the mall's former Center Cafe location. [Order this photo]

While the rest of the nation watched polls, listened to talk radio and tracked television coverage of Tuesday's general election, local Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross Director could be found pushing a rack of clothing and other miscellaneous items down the corridor at the Gateway North Mall Tuesday afternoon.

His destination, the old Center Cafe where a wide variety of items are being collected, stored, sorted and priced for Saturday's "Garage Sale," set to begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m.

The purpose of the event, to help contribute to a $30,000 local goal for the agency.

Campbell said, "The fundraiser is for American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. This fund offers immediate assistance to disaster victims."

This fund finances all disaster relief efforts such as the Parkersburg tornado, the Iowa Floods, the California wildfires and now the Hurricanes of the gulf coast. The fund was depleted earlier this year as donations to the Red Cross have been declining due to the economy and other factors. Right now the Red Cross has borrowed money to keep our relief efforts going including sheltering and feeding the evacuees and offering professional counseling.

"It all began with Parkersburg tornado, then California, then the southeast Iowa flooding, tropical storms, hurricanes…It's been an ongoing bad year," said Campbell.

Campbell explained that $30,000 isn't a huge amount for the frequently generous area, but said that with media coverage of the hurricanes and the flooding concerns being wiped off the radar screen by political coverage and the Wall Street mess, people aren't aware of the Red Cross needs.

The national goal for the agency is to see chapters across the United States raise $100 million dollars by year's end. Iowa's portion has been set at $1 million. Locally, $5,000 has been donated towards the $30,000 figure.

Campbell is hopeful that the sale will boost that figure. "We'll see how it all comes out. I don't want to take away from people who generally donate to chapter. I can't afford to have that taken away. That's why we come up with an extra event like this…Cedar Rapids can go to someone like Quaker Oats, I have to rely on 'Average Joe' around here."

As far as things are going around here in terms of local donations for the event, Average Joe isn't doing to bad. Campbell is continuing to collect items that are being dropped off at the Red Cross office at the North Gateway Mall.

"It's just been amazing," Campbell said, pushing through a pile of items at the Center Cafe location. "We've got to price it all yet. I'm just trying to get it all here and get it sorted right now.

"I've been getting a lot of calls from people who are bringing items. It's going to be a lot of fun."

In addition to donated items, Campbell said the local chapter will have a booth on site for people to make financial contributions as well on Saturday.

Campbell and other volunteers will be sorting and pricing the balance of the items on Nov. 7.

The Spencer Daily Reporter and Dickinson County News are partnering the Iowa Great Lakes Red Cross chapter to promote the event.

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The Iowa Great Lakes Chapter of the American Red Cross Garage Sale will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Gateway North Mall. For those wishing to donate items for the sale or a contribution in advance, Bill Campbell can be reached at the office, 262-1574. The office email is: arcigl@smunet.net. The office is located on the southeast corner of the North Gateway Mall in Spencer.