Locals show up early for JSL Attic Sale

Published 7:55 pm Friday, October 4, 2019

A bit of just about everything — including a kitchen sink — was for sale at the Junior Service League Attic Sale on Friday night as eager shoppers lined up for the pre-sale.

The annual event helps raise funds for projects and groups throughout the Troup County Community and is made possible by community donations and support. 

“We actually had somebody outside waiting at 1:30 p.m. [Friday] to get in,” said Brittany Calhoun, Attic Sale co-chair.

By the time the doors opened at 6 p.m., a line stretched down the sidewalk outside the Callaway Conference Center at West Georgia Technical College.

And that was just the pre-sale. Saturday will likely see an even larger crowd looking for deals on everything from kitchen tables to Christmas décor to boutique items.

The annual event raises funds local groups who receive funds from JSL, including Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the Empty Bowls dinner, LaGrange Art Museum’s Super Saturdays, Safe Families, Taste of the Town and backpack ministries.

“I have found many, many incredible deals here,” said Gary Sindrick, who said he drove in from Griffin for the sale. “Stuff that I buy for two or three dollars here, I’ve sold for $100. It’s a good deal.” 

Even as locals filed in looking for great deals, many said that one of their top reasons for coming out was to support the community.

“It is obviously for the great prices, but it also helps the community out too,” said Jeff Rogers, who enjoys shopping at the sale each year with his wife. “It is a way of giving back to the community and helping them, plus donating our stuff back to them.”

Calhoun said that the sale is also a great opportunity for people to purchase items they might not otherwise be able to afford.

“For people that are maybe needing to buy that Christmas item for John or Susan — like a bike they can’t afford to go buy — they can come here and get a bike for $10 or $15, and that will make their Christmas morning,” Calhoun said. “Kids can buy books if they need books. I think it is more about community and coming together and giving back to the community. It is just one big circle.”

The Junior Service League was established in LaGrange in 1973, and the Attic Sale began in 1974. Since then, funds from the sale have helped countless people in the community through the league’s support of local programs.

The annual JSL Attic Sale will open its doors again for the early bird 30-minute presale on Saturday at 8 a.m., with the regular sale beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Entrance to the pre-sale costs $5, and the regular sale costs $1.