‘Largest Sale in Grand Rapids’ to return, help fund kids camp

David Horak
·3 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — If you’re looking for a bargain on something for your home, office or yard, you can do that this weekend while helping a kids camp in west Michigan.

After moving out of its former home at the DeltaPlex, the 87th White Elephant Sale will be at the former Art Van Furniture store on Alpine Avenue, next to Planet Fitness. “The Largest Sale in Grand Rapids” is expected to be bigger and better.

On Friday, shoppers wanting to get their hands on the items before everyone else can cut the line with the Early Bird Sale starting at 8 a.m. for $10 per person. The rest will be allowed in at 9:30 a.m. at no cost.

Proceeds from every white elephant sale go towards renovations at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin. This year’s will help fund redesigning the camp’s waterfront.

“That will make it more accessible. They’ll be paving it so that someone in a wheelchair can get to the waterfront and experience that part of the camp,” explained Kim Craycraft, who serves as co-chair for the sale. “(It) is a beautiful part of the camp. It’s on a lake and it’s a pivotal part of going to summer camp.”

More than a week away from the sale, most of the 70,000 square-foot showroom space within the former Art Van Furniture was already looking like a bargain hunter’s dream.

“We’ve received donations from companies, from individuals all across the city and we have truckloads more coming,” Craycraft said. “But we can always use more items to sell so that we can have something for everyone when they come and shop.”

If you want to donate, keep in mind that volunteers won’t take everything. Restricted items not accepted include:

  • Firearms and Ammunition

  • Containers for any type of gas or oil, including propane tanks

  • Toxic materials of any type

  • Open cosmetics, health care products

  • Used paint of any type

  • Photo Chemicals

  • Used Computers – volunteers recommend contacting CompRenew (www.comprenew.org) to recycle old computers

  • Non-working TV’s – volunteers might ask for proof that the TV being donated is in working order

  • CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TV’s – volunteers will only accept flat screen TVs in working order

  • Cell Phones or Cell Phone Chargers – volunteers urge you to work with your cell phone company to recycle/donate them.

  • Florescent light tubes

  • Broken or non-functional items

  • Used vaporizers or humidifiers – only new will be accepted

  • Used Mattresses and box springs

  • Refrigerators

  • Appliances that don’t function – volunteers may ask for proof that the appliance is functioning

  • Used hot water heaters or water softeners

  • Pianos or organs

  • Wood office credenza

  • Standard wood office desks

  • Infant/child car seats or baby cribs

  • File cabinets

The following are donated items that volunteers will accept:

  • Antiques

  • Appliances

  • ATVs

  • Building Materials, Hardware, and Lumber

  • Business Dead Stock/Excess Inventory

  • Books, CDs, Vinyl records, DVDs

  • Business Liquidations/Retirements

  • Car Parts

  • Clothing – gently used

  • Coins and other Collectibles

  • Electronics

  • Estate Sale Items

  • Farm Implements and Equipment

  • Furniture

  • Generators, Power Washers, and Pumps

  • Hobbies

  • Housewares

  • Industrial Supplies

  • Jewelry/Gems

  • Lawn and Garden Equipment and Supplies

  • Outdoor Living Equipment, Furniture, and Supplies

  • Sporting Goods

  • Tools

  • Toys

  • Trailers

  • Vehicles

  • Watercraft

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