Mar 14, 2013 | By Lauren Engel Special to the Chronicle
More than 3,500 people attended the Junior League of Tallahassee’s (JLT) 2013 Whale of a Sale, presented by AMWAT Moving, Warehousing and Storage this weekend. This year marked the 39th annual sale, which took place Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2, in the former Dillard’s wing of the Tallahassee Mall.
Whale of a Sale has grown to be Tallahassee’s largest garage sale, featuring great deals on new and used furniture, clothes, housewares, toys, sporting goods, appliances, books, music and more. It’s also the JLT’s signature fundraiser, raising an annual average of $40,000 that is distributed 100 percent back to the community through the League’s community projects. “The Whale of a Sale is really a two-fold event — raising thousands of dollars to better the lives of children and families in Tallahassee,” said JLT President Jill Pope. “At the same time, we’re able to provide high-quality clothing, furniture and household items to people and community groups at extremely affordable prices.”
The success of the Whale of a Sale is directly tied with the support of the Tallahassee community, and the many corporate partners and sponsors who support the mission and activities of the League — including AMWAT Moving, Warehousing and Storage.
AMWAT supports the League and the Whale of a Sale year-round by offering the storage, transportation, logistical help and other support integral to the success of the fundraiser.
Along with the opportunity to enjoy early shopping, community members joined the JLT for the Big Splash Food Truck Bash on Friday night. The Bash featured six different local food trucks, live entertainment and a beer garden. On Saturday, the great deals on amazing merchandise ran all day.
All proceeds from ticket and item sales go directly to supporting the JLT’s community projects.
Earlier this year, JLT launched two new projects — the Second Harvest BackPack Program and Boys and Girls Club Family Night. The Second Harvest BackPack Program aims to address childhood hunger in Tallahassee area by providing school children at risk of hunger with backpacks of nutritious, kid-friendly foods to take home over the weekends during the school year.
The JLT is also partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of the Big Bend to implement a monthly Family Night event at the Greg McCray Boys & Girls Club. The project is aimed at strengthening the family unit, while also providing basic nutritional, self-esteem and workforce education to the children and families served. JLT and its members will support both these projects throughout the year through financial and volunteer support.
In addition, JLT will continue to host its signature community events this year — Kids’ Boutique and Operation Prom Dress. In August, JLT provided more than 150 local students with the clothes and supplies needed for a successful school year at the 16th annual Kids’ Boutique Shopping Event.
On March 9, the JLT will host the 2013 Operation Prom Dress event, where students from Gretchen Everhart School for Exceptional Students, along with other selected teens from Leon and neighboring counties, are able to “shop” for a prom dress, shoes and accessories — all at no charge.
Established in 1960, the Junior League of Tallahassee is a non-profit organization comprised of 600 women committed to improving the lives of children and families through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. For more information regarding the Whale of a Sale or any other Junior League programs, call (850) 224-9161 or visit www.jltallahassee.org.
