Ken and Linda Branham, of Lugoff, got to the Columbia Junior League’s “Clean Sweep” sale at the State Fairgrounds early Saturday morning – and brought almost their entire family with them.
“Five adults and one baby,” said Linda, who was dragging two garbage bags stuffed with newly purchased linens and other household items behind her.
Ken was hauling a third garbage bag with a shop vac, which can retail for more than $100, on top.
Kelsey Branham of Lugoff slides her mountain of items across the floor to check out. Clean Sweep, now in its 15th year, is a Junior League fundraiser.
- Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.com
Tania Sims, 6 of W. Columbia came to Clean Sweep to load up on books. Clean Sweep, now in its 15th year, is a Junior League fundraiser.
- Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.com
Fresh out of the gate, shoppers rush to fill their bags with movies and music from tables of DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes. Clean Sweep, now in its 15th year, is a Junior League fundraiser.
- Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.com
Ken Branham with his daughter Kelsey and his wife Linda, all of Lugoff, love to come to Clean Sweep to shop. "It's just fun to do," says Ken. "This is the most exciting part, running around to get your stuff." Clean Sweep, now in its 15th year, is a Junior League fundraiser.
- Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.com
Marion Robinson of Eastover has been shopping at Clean Sweep for 4 years with his family. Besides being the first in line, his strategy for getting the best deals... "Anything I can get in the bag," says Robinson. Clean Sweep, now in its 15th year, is a Junior League fundraiser.
- Kim Kim Foster-Tobin /kkfoster@thestate.com
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“I got one just like it at home,” said Ken, who pointed out a hole in the vacuum’s hose. The reason he wanted the damaged shop vac?
“If the motor goes bad, then I got another one,” he said. “... That’s how I was taught.”
The event – part rummage sale and part free-for-all – started at 8 a.m. Saturday. But for the Branhams, who’ve attended the fundraiser before, the real fun comes at the end of the day, when the “bag sale” begins. For just $5, shoppers can stuff as many items as they can fit into a garbage bag and haul it away.
“This is the exciting part,” said Linda, trying to keep her bags from splitting. “This is when you find the real deals.”
A must-attend event for those looking for deals, the annual sale, now in its 15th year, has been a win-win for Midlands residents and the Junior League’s about 1,500 members.
“What’s great about (Clean Sweep) is we provide quality items at greatly reduced prices,” said Lisa Ellis, one of the event’s organizers. “And all of the money goes back to the community.”
Chief among the league’s projects that will benefit from the event are “Smart Matters,” which helps Richland 1 children prepare for school, and the Healthy Kids Expo, coming up Feb. 25 at the Drew Wellness Center, which encourages healthy lifestyles.
League members, who are required to donate at least $75 worth of gently used items to the sale, also participate in many “Done in a Day” projects, which benefit the community with only a 24-hour commitment..
Ellis, who was in her eighth year volunteering for the event, said the down economy seems to have contributed to the clean sweep event’s popularity.
“We’ve seen an upswing because of that,” she said. “It ebbs and flows, but I got here at 6:30, and they were already lined up.”
The fairgrounds’ Cantey Building was filled with everything from children’s clothes and toys to books, household items, furniture, appliances and linens – good news for Stephanie Portnall, who was thumbing through the books.
Portnall said the sale was a “good thing” because as a USC senior living off campus, she has to stick to a budget.
“How can it not be good when you have an entire bag of stuff for $5?” she said.
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