‘Trinkets and Treasures’ indoor yard sale to benefit the Child Abuse Council, The Hope Project and the Muskegon Sports Council
The Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce’s 14th annual “Trinkets and Treasures” charity fundraiser this Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28 will transform a Lakes Mall storefront into a 7,000-square-foot indoor yard sale—and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to benefit the Child Abuse Council, The Hope Project, and the Muskegon Sports Council.
Slated to be held inside the former Charlotte Russe store—which the Lakes Mall donated to the Women’s Division Chamber of Commerce [WDCC], a local nonprofit, for the event, the sale will feature thousands of new, gently used, vintage, and collectible items that range from adult’s and children’s clothing, accessories and shoes to home décor items, hardware, furniture, and more. All of the items that are for sale have been donated by Women’s Division members, the nonprofit partners, and the public.
Open to the general public, the event will be held from 9am to 6pm on Sept. 27 and 9am to 3pm on Sept. 28. Customers may shop the “early bird sale” from 8am to 9am on Sept. 27 for a $5 donation. No donation is necessary to attend the sale’s regular hours.
“It’s empowering to work side-by-side with our nonprofit partners,” Trinkets and Treasures Co-Chairwoman JoAnne Hoekenga said as she and a team of volunteers worked to set up the shop late last week. “It’s a great thing to work together with them to support their programs and community projects.”
Since its inception 14 years ago, the event has raised about $163,000—all of which has gone to 29 charitable organizations in our community. Each year, nonprofits apply to be the beneficiaries of the sale and, as part of that process, specify how they plan to use the donated funds.
“When we receive these applications every year, we have a team that sits down and screens the requests,” Hoekenga said. “We look at what’s important to us and what’s important to the community because that’s what the Women’s Division does: we raise money to support nonprofit organizations.”
This year, the Child Abuse Council plans to use the funds generated from this event for a second interview room for child abuse cases, which will include video cameras, microphones, and other electronics needed to “provide a safe interview situation between the victim and the counselor/interviewee,” Hoekenga explained.
The Muskegon Sports Council—the operating body of the Muskegon Winter Sports Complex—is expected to use the money to help build a rock climbing wall at the complex, which is expanding to offer year-round activities. The rock climbing wall is slated to be a part of a major project at the North Muskegon complex that’s adding a zip line, canopy tour, pavilion, rock wall, expanded lodge, and more.
With the event’s donations, the Hope Project—a nonprofit that works with victims of human trafficking—will be able to further support their programs and equipment needed for interview rooms. Currently, the Hope Project is working with about 65 victims between the ages of 11 and 65 years old.
Hoekenga emphasized the WDCC’s gratitude to the Lakes Mall for donating the Charlotte Russe space. For the past four years, the event was held at the Folkert Community Hub—but, with the hub currently undergoing a major renovation, the sale needed to find a new home.
“We’re very thankful that the mall donated this space to us and that they’re willing to be a community partner,” said Hoekenga, who noted the event’s other sponsors include Redi Rental, Schuitema Moving & Storage, Meijer, and JCPenney.
“This is a great event, and we hope you can join us to support our community nonprofits,” Hoekenga said.
Story by Anna Gustafson, the publisher and editor of Muskegon Times. You can connect with her by emailing MuskegonTimes@gmail.com or on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.