HART’s Annual Yard Sale raises funds and hope for cats in need

By Masha Yurkevich

For those who like to find a good deal and support a great cause, HART of Maine annual yard sale is a chance to discover everything from antiques and artwork to furniture and children’s books. The Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART) of Maine will host its annual yard sale at the Cumberland Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall on Aug. 6 through Aug. 9, bringing together hundreds of community members for what has become one of the largest fundraisers for the organization.

Volunteers organize thousands of donated items for HART of
Maine's annual yard sale at the Cumberland Fairgrounds
Exhibition Hall. Proceeds from the four-day fundraiser from 
Aug. 6 to Aug. 9 support the care of cats at the nonprofit's
no-kill shelter in Cumberland.  SUBMITTED PHOTO   

The four-day event features thousands of donated items, with proceeds going directly toward caring for the cats at HART no-kill shelter in Cumberland.

"It is an incredibly important event," said Sarah Michniewicz, HART vice president and yard sale lead. "This represents a really large chunk of our budget."

Founded in 1997, HART began in a barn before eventually moving into its permanent shelter on Range Road in Cumberland. Since then, the nonprofit has built a reputation for providing care to injured, sick and special-needs cats that often require extensive medical treatment before they can be adopted.

"We are able to take on some of the more challenging medical issues and give a second chance to a cat that maybe otherwise would not have been able to get the care they needed," Michniewicz said.

That mission comes with significant costs, making fundraising events like the annual yard sale essential to the organization's operations.

Unlike many yard sales, this event resembles a well-organized retail store. The spacious exhibition hall is carefully arranged with dedicated sections for furniture, houseware items, clothing, jewelry, electronics, artwork, antiques, vintage items, books and small appliances. Volunteers spend weeks sorting, pricing and displaying thousands of donated items before the doors to the event open.

"People think of a yard sale as a jumble of things," Michniewicz said. "This is not. It is a great building, and we are grateful to the Cumberland Fairgrounds for renting it to us because it is the perfect place to display merchandise."

Michniewicz said the fundraiser began around 2005 in the HART shelter parking lot, when volunteers held several smaller sales throughout the year. As donations and attendance grew, organizers consolidated everything into one large annual event. In 2014, the sale moved to the Cumberland Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall, where it has continued to expand.

"We now have every shelf filled with all kinds of incredible things," she said. "People donate the most amazing things to us."

Although the fundraiser is critical financially, Michniewicz believes its greatest strength is the sense of community it creates.

"I have never been part of any event like this where so many people come together and work so hard for four weeks and do so much good," Michniewicz said.

About 100 volunteers help prepare and operate the sale each year. Some are long-time HART volunteers, while others return specifically for the Annual Yard Sale event.

"There are some people who come here specifically during their vacation in the summer to help volunteer," Michniewicz said. "It is pretty mind-blowing."

The event has also developed partnerships with other nonprofit organizations. After the sale concludes, many unsold items are donated to charities that can use them, extending the impact of each donation beyond HART itself.

"It is sort of a virtuous cycle," Michniewicz said. "We are happy to pass things on to others."

As the cost of veterinary care continues to rise, HART remains committed to treating cats with serious medical needs, even when doing so requires extensive resources and Michniewicz hopes the public recognizes the unique role the shelter plays in helping animals that might otherwise have nowhere to go.

The organization is currently accepting donations for the yard sale at its shelter, located at 302 Range Road in Cumberland, through July 24. Donations can be dropped off daily between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., though donors are encouraged to review the HART website for a list of items the organization cannot accept. HART is also seeking additional volunteers to help sort, organize and price donations before the sale begins.

The yard sale officially opens Thursday, Aug. 6 and runs from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with the final day on Sunday running from 8 a.m. to noon. A special Sip & Shop preview event will be held the evening before the sale.

For first-time shoppers, Michniewicz offered one simple piece of advice.

"Get there early," she said. "It really is a good time, with positive energy and good people. You will almost certainly find something that you will want to take home."

For HART, every bargain purchased this year helps write another success story for a cat waiting for a forever home. <