Native American Community Center holds kickoff yard sale

Standing in the front yard of a fellow volunteer’s house last October, Del Criscenzo looked around and realized that the yard sale fundraiser had actually worked.

Criscenzo, a graduate student and treasurer of the newly formed Native American Community Center of Bloomington, said the Community Center began programs and events in October 2008, and their first fundraiser, a yard sale, raised enough money for the center to apply to be a tax-exempt organization.

The Community Center will kick off fundraising as a nonprofit organization with a Valentine’s Day yard sale at the Girls Inc. gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

“The yard sale is something everybody would enjoy,” Laura Reagan, sophomore and board member, said. “You don’t have to know about Native American culture to participate.”

In addition to a yard sale of secondhand items and handmade American Indian crafts, the fundraiser will include performances and American Indian demonstrations.

Community members who wanted to help and clean out their closets at the same time donated many of the secondhand items, said Community Center president Rebecca Riall.

Riall, a graduate law student, said people who want to support the center could come to watch traditional Cherokee basket weaving and to listen to traditional American Indian storytellers.

The goal is to raise money to cover basic costs, such as a mailbox or the cost of beading workshops, and to take the financial burden off volunteers, Riall said.

Criscenzo said she hopes to raise as much money as possible to start new programs at the Community Center.

Program members said they hope to fund a program that increases educational material about Native Americans in local schools.

Criscenzo added the books in school libraries often depict American Indians in an old-fashioned way, and the center hopes to provide materials that teach about modern American Indians.

“We are a modern people, we drive cars and go to college and are successful in the workplace,” Reagan said. Reagan added that she hopes the center will help erase negative stereotypes of American Indians.

The center’s long-term goals are to find a building and to raise awareness about American Indian culture, Riall said.

Criscenzo said the center would serve as a meeting place where the community could come to answer questions, use the library and learn about American Indian culture.
Members of the center chose a large indoor venue for the yard sale so the weather wouldn’t be a problem. Reagan added that the location is well-known and convenient to find.

Criscenzo said board members wanted to have the yard sale as soon as possible and thought Valentine’s Day would be a good day to sell chocolate and baked goods for the fundraiser.

Riall said she is glad the center received donations from the community and has community support.

The fundraiser will allow the center to become alive and running, said Criscenzo.
“Funds from the yard sale will allow us to start thinking ahead.”