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There was plenty to rummage through at Saturday’s inaugural Santa Paula Senior Center Rummage Sale at the Community Center. |
Santa Paula Senior Center Rummage
Sale at the Community Center
April 17, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The inaugural Santa Paula Senior Center Rummage Sale at the Community Center Saturday made everyone happy, especially those that benefit from programs serving senior citizens.
From the Senior Center at the Community Center to Meals on Wheels, everyone was a winner that attended the event according to coordinator Cece Salinas Chavez.
Senior Center Director Beverly Ruiz and Teresa Ruiz of the Santa Paula Community Services Department worked with Chavez on the sale.
“It turned out very well,” said Chavez who with Ruiz made sure flyers on the event were distributed “everywhere” including Camarillo and Oxnard.
There were 25 vendors at the Community Center for the outdoor sale held on a day of typically perfect Santa Paula weather.
Chavez said there was much for shoppers to rummage through: “There were knickknacks, house wares, furniture, clothing, jewelry, plants,” offered by vendors offering both new and lovingly used merchandise.
Shoppers, including those that pulled over when they spied the sale, were delighted at the mix of merchandise as well as the location adjacent to plenty of free parking.
Chavez estimates more than 150 shoppers stopped by and very few if any left-empty handed even if they were only holding a snack; refreshments sold benefited the upkeep costs of an area Future Farmers of America animal.
The vendor that came the farthest was from Thousand Oaks and Chavez is pleased that “So many were asking to get on the list for the next one. One vendor had collectible marbles and a game using marbles…I talked to him at the end and he was very happy, he said he did well,” although Chavez admitted to having initial doubts about the sale-ability of his merchandise.
Meals on Wheels also had a booth and Chavez said MOW Coordinator Kathy Ashby and others with the organization that delivers meals and a bit of company to seniors, “Were very pleased…”
Santa Paula High School Human Services Academy students volunteered at the Rummage Sale helping wherever needed.
Chavez, Ruiz and Ruiz are working together to create more events at the Community Center and are hoping to make the Rummage Sale an event held every other month.
“But we do want to do a little bit more,” including adding a Farmers Market and food trucks.
“We’re putting more things on our calendar,” said Chavez. “We’re thinking of doing a health and wellness fair this summer.”
There’s much that can be turned into not only a profitable experience for sellers but also a benefit to senior programs: “A bridal expo, business expo, Latino expo, maybe a margarita mixer even a New Year’s Eve party…people don’t really have a place to go locally for a big New Year’s Eve celebration. I have some very good ideas for them,” but noted Chavez, they all require research, planning outreach and then advertising.
“We have to bring events to Santa Paula and anything to help the seniors,” is a priority.
The Senior Center is looking for more participants in a variety of activities from having lunch and playing bingo to field trips whether educational or just fun movie nights.
“…just to get them out more,” said Chavez, but transportation is always an issue.
For more information about upcoming events or to be placed on a vendor list contact Chavez at 805-525-6413 or email chavezocho@yahoo.com For more information on the Senior Center and its services call Beverly Ruiz at 933-4226 ext 356.
