The Stratford in the Village of West Clay recently presented a check for $8,000 to the Carmel Clay Library Foundation. Pictured here are (left to right) Bob Meeker, Joyce Winner, Mary Jane Meeker, David Temple, Wendy Phillips, Ruth Isenthal, Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard, and Jim Hehner.

As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Residents at The Stratford in the Village of West Clay proved that true by selling their unwanted goods in a community wide garage sale the last weekend of October. The twist to this shopping experience is all proceeds were to benefit the Carmel Clay Public Library Foundation.

According to event organizer Mary Jane Meeker, the residents wanted to organize something to build a sense of community and contribute to a worthwhile cause, so she and Margaret Shaw started planning and collecting merchandise. “We chose to support the library and its Ready-Set-Read program that teaches literacy to preschoolers so when they get to kindergarten they can read,” said Meeker. “We thought we might raise $500.”

The team of Stratford volunteers started collecting items in July, picking up donations at residents’ apartments. “A lot of people come to The Stratford with too much baggage. This was a chance for them to get rid of some things for a good cause,” said Meeker.

Library Guild Member, Joyce Winner, who owns a company called Good Riddance, helped price items and organized furniture and decorative pieces for consignment with Consigning Women. “Some of the furnishings from the models were too nice to sell in a garage sale. I knew they could raise more money through consignment,” added Winner.

And they did. At a special reception, The Stratford residents presented a check totaling $8,000 to the CCPL Foundation. “We are so pleased,” said Meeker. “It took a conglomerate of people to make this happen and many neighbors from the village came to help us.”

Mayor Jim Brainard and Foundation Board president, David Temple both complimented The Stratford residents on their efforts and thanked them for choosing to support the library – turning their trash into a valuable lifelong treasure for children learning to read.