Donations are accepted at the Fairgrounds for about two and a half weeks prior to the upcoming sale, Monday through Saturday, from 10 AM to ! PM. Donations cannot be accepted outside of these hours, on Sundays, or after the donation period is closed. all donations must be brought to the Fairgrounds; we no longer do pick-ups.
All these restrictions and we still get more than we can sell.
During these hours on donation days, all traffic enters the Fairgrounds through the Lower gate, and goes north and then counter-clockwise around the big tents until they exit through the Upper gate. Donors are initially greeted by a volunteer who directs them through the several drop-off locations where donations are accepted. (There are six drop-off locations: Electric, Sorting, Sporting Goods, Furniture, Books and Computers.) The greeter also gives the donor a receipt and some informational material about the Agency.
When everything is going smoothly, the weather is good, and donations are light to moderate, this process takes less than ten minutes. When everything is going less smoothly, the weather is not so good, or donations are heavy, this process can take an hour or more. The difference largely rests with the donors.
A well-packed vehicle can be emptied in five minutes. A poorly-packed one can take twenty.
