PT Spring Sale: Six Reasons to Volunteer, Donate, Consign and Shop!

If you are pregnant or new to parenthood, the Parent Talk Sale on Saturday, May 7, 2016, is a must-not-miss event.  You can expect to see some high-end baby gear, clothing, and toys at bargain basement prices (literally...the Sale is held in a church basement!).  And all of it within a welcoming community of fellow moms and dads, eager to swap stories from the parenthood trenches or share resources ranging from pediatricians to preschools to summer camps.  It is so special that I have friends who travel from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts twice a year to volunteer and shop.  No joke.  There is simply nothing else like it.

A long line of shoppers waits to enter one of PT's bi-annual Sales.

If you are welcoming another baby to the fold, you also owe it to yourself and your growing family to check out the Sale.  Donate or consign some of that outgrown blue clothing and search for something new in pink!  Volunteer as a Sale staffer, share your hard-earned expertise with a friend, and learn something new from someone with older kids.  Simplify your life and pick up an extra set of everything (cheap!) for grandma's house, and never ever schlep another toy or pack-and-play there again.  Doesn't that sound amazing?!

I can't wait.  See you Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Christ Episcopal Church in Needham.  The General Sale runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., followed by the $10 Clearance Bag Sale from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  The Sale is open to the general public.  Membership in Parent Talk is not required to donate, consign, volunteer or shop. 

 If you need a few more reasons to squeeze the Sale into your calendar, here are six:

1.  HIGH END BRAND NAME CONSIGNMENTS

The Sale has established a reputation for high quality.  You can often find brands like Hanna Andersson, Mini Boden, Crew Cuts and more.  Think Kate Spade diaper bags, Kelty backpacks, and Bugaboo strollers.  Even if you are just cleaning out a pile of Carter's jammies, you can feel good about making the donation.  Or, turn a tidy profit when you place your consignment cast-offs in the company of brand name merchandise.

Shoppers among the many racks of clothing.

2.  DO WELL AND DO GOOD!

Parent Talk is a 501 c3 non-profit organization, so your donations to the Sale are fully tax deductible.  Half of all that you earn on consignments also directly supports Parent Talk programs that benefit hundreds of Metro-West families.  Any unsold donations or consignments are scooped up by other regional charities that help needy or homeless families, such as Circle of Hope, Cradles to Crayons, and the Department of Children and Families.  Email donations@parenttalk.info for donation drop-off information and sellerskit@parenttalk.info for information on consigning.

3.  REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

Donate your well-loved toys and clothes to the Parent Talk Sale, not the landfill.  Shopping for recycled treasures at the Sale is much more fun and eco-friendly than shopping at your local big box store or online.

Example of a "jackpot" item from a past Sale -- small Trek mountain bike.

4.  TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL

Parents can shop with their children to teach them elementary math while making purchases and how to best manage their money.  Kids enjoy a freedom of choice not possible at more expensive stores. 

5.  VOLUNTEERING HAS ITS PRIVILEGES

If you serve on the Parent Talk Sale Committee and/or sign up for a 2-hour volunteer shift, you can shop from Sale items a whole day early, and under less crowded conditions.  Friday is a private shopping day for volunteers and some of the most desirable items are sold then, before the Sale even opens to the general public. 

6.  IT'S IN THE BAG!

The very last hour of the Sale is exciting.  For just $10, shoppers can fill a bag with as much merchandise as they can carry.  Even if you shop all day at Friday's private sale for volunteers, you will want to come back to bag the best bargains on Saturday.

The Parent Talk Sale is the Olympics of sales.  But you can't get to the PT Sale from your computer or your iPhone.  You have to show up to share the good gossip (maybe even get a warm hug!) and grab the deals of the century.


About the Author
Catherine Memory is a freelance writer and publicist, and a former Parent Talk Board member.