Yard sale to benefit United Way

The United Way of Monroe County, with help from several IU organizations, will be taking its first steps towards achieving its goal of raising $1.5 million for the year with a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. \nNow in its ninth year, the White River Central Labor Council yard sale to benefit the United Way will bring together a variety of different organizations, including the Kelley School of Business Central Charity Challenge, the IU Office of Orientation Programs and the Monroe County Community Corrections program. The benefit sale, which will take place in the United Way parking lot at 441 S. College Ave., expects to draw in community members looking for items ranging from clothing to furniture at prices below department store wholesale.\nJennifer Hottell, communications director for United Way of Monroe County, said qualifying families in need can obtain coupons through their partner agencies to shop for free during the last hour of the sale, and all remaining merchandise is donated to the Salvation Army.\n"All of this energetic volunteer support, along with generous merchandise donation from community members, makes the yard sale a success," said Liz Feitl, AFL-CIO community services liaison for the United Way of Monroe County.\nThe yard sale is just one of the first steps for the local United Way to reach out to community members this school year. The organization will be kicking off its "50 years of improving people's lives" campaign at an event Sept. 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the tent at the DeVault Alumni Center. Felisha Legette-Jack, the new IU women's basketball coach, will be the keynote speaker. The event is not only the United Way's first effort to recruit new volunteers, but also the first opportunity to reunite campaign leaders with the IU community. \n"This event is also an opportunity to share with our campaign volunteers the importance of the work they contribute to the campaign," Hottell said. "Each one of us has the opportunity to improve people's lives -- every contribution made to the United Way campaign will make a positive change in our community."\nKristen Schwendinger, the IU United Way Campaign coordinator, said her experience volunteering for the organization has made a large impact on her life. \n"I have had the opportunity to work with people whose own life stories include memories of volunteering themselves with the United Way," she said. "Their stories have been a refreshing source of candor and sincerity that keeps me inspired about the potential to have an impact, even as one person in a community in many different ways over a lifetime"