BARL sale is ‘cat’s meow’

Published 10:27 am Wednesday, February 1, 2017

The Brookhaven Animal Rescue League is hosting one of the biggest sales of the year with its fifth annual “Cats Meow” rummage sale.

Clothes, shoes, jewelry, and more will be available for as little as 50 cents. There will also be household furniture, outdoor equipment and specialty items on sale.

“Last year we raised $13,000,” said BARL volunteer Deana Pendley, “100 percent of the money goes towards animals, which helps with the spay and neutering of all animals along with shots and food.”

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However, the money does not last long with the cost of neutering and shots at $200 or higher. BARL takes a monthly average of 45-50 dogs and 30 cats during cat season.

The rummage sale and celebrity dinner are the two community fundraisers BARL organizes to help take care of the animals every year. “Without them, we probably wouldn’t survive,” Pendley said. “We really depend on the public for those two events.”

Pendley has helped with the fundraiser for four years. She helps price the items, find volunteers, set schedules and oversee much of the fundraiser background work with the help of other volunteers.

Community service hours are available to all volunteers along with tax forms for donors. “Last year, every inch of the Hudsons building was filled with items,” Pendley said. “We collect items all year long.”

BARL has established great relationships with surrounding schools like Brookhaven High School and Copiah-Lincoln Community College. “Coaches Glenn Davis and Jason Guthrie of Co-Lin has helped every year by bringing their football team down to unload items,” Pendley said.

The rummage sale starts Friday, March 3 with a $5 early bird shopping fee from 5-9 p.m. It will continue 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

BARL is asking for all donors to bring their valuable items — furniture, tools, toys, decorative items, jewelry, shoes, clothing, kitchen items, lawn mowers, antiques and more — to the old Hudsons building, 220 Hwy. 51 N., on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or schedule an appointment by calling Deana Pendley at 601-720-1505 or Julie Montalvo at 601-757-1057. All items should be received by Feb. 27.