Donation Connection, Burlington's free store that works to help those struggling to make ends meet, is holding a yard sale this week to help pay its bills and stay in business. 

The yard sale will be taking place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. every day through Friday just outside the store, located at 3138 Sunnyside Ave.  

The yard sale will feature new items, including children's shoes for $3, shirts for $1 and outfits for $3. Items inside the store will still be free. 

Proceeds from the yard sale will go toward the store's rent, trash and utility fees. 

"Nobody wants to see it close," said Sherry Bandy, the founder and main operator of Donation Connection. "I don't want to see it close. ... It's amazing to see the smiles and relief on some of (my customers') faces. It stresses me when I go home and think that I might not be able to do this again next month." 

Donation Connection has no paid employees and all monetary donations go toward keeping the store stocked and open.  

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Since the store launched during the spring of 2021, Donation Connection  has run on a combination of donated goods, monetary donations, occasional fundraising events, Bandy's time, and help from her friends.

Donation Connection typically does not charge for any of its items, but, due to limited resources, Bandy and her volunteers usually have to determine what items and how much they can give away to individuals and families, all on a needs-basis.        

In addition to clothes and shoes for children and adults, the store offers school supplies, furniture, blankets, books, toys, sanitary products and other household items.  

While anyone in need can come to the store for assistance, Donation Connection typically serves local residents experiencing poverty, unemployment, domestic abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health issues, money issues, and victims of natural disasters, house fires, and a variety of other adverse circumstances.   

Bandy said she's seen a variety of those in need in a series of waves. 

"It kind of just varies," Bandy said. "We have a lot of people come here who are on strike, single moms, the homeless, just people who aren't making ends meet with the prices of everything.  

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"We have done 110 backpacks full of school supplies for kids in need and we still have more coming in." 

But Bandy said recent donations have not been enough to cover the store's bills, so she is hoping this week's yard sale will help keep the store open a little longer.  

Starting Sept. 1, Bandy said the store will be charging 25 cents for each item, with goods being available for free again every other Friday.    

"We're having to start to charge a quarter because the free-will donations aren't coming in," Bandy said. "It's school time, Christmas is coming up, the holidays are coming, people are strapped for money with the gas prices, and all the other things that are going on in life in general. 

"We have to do something to stay open, and if we don't start charging at least a quarter to stay open we're not going to be open. I don't feel that a quarter is unfair to ask for anything that's in our store." 

Bandy said the store has particular needs for diapers, baby wipes, other types of hygiene products, and school supplies. 

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Donation Connection has recently applied to become a nonprofit organization, which Bandy said would allow the store to receive additional sources of funding and operate with more stability.     

Bandy said the Burlington VFW Hall has been a great supporter of Donation Connection, making donations monthly and will also be selling ribeye steak sandwiches with two side options for $10 on Saturday, with all the proceeds going to the store.   

Bandy also said future fundraising events are in the works. 

Bandy told The Hawk Eye that she believes the proceeds from the yard sale will be enough keep the store in business.   

"I'm not going to go down without fight," she said. "I have a lot of people around me that are trying to help me stay open." 

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Brad Vidmar covers public safety and education for The Hawk Eye and can be reached via email at BVidmar@gannett.com.