Gulf Coast Association of Pride set to host yard sale

The Long Beach Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall is overflowing with clothes, shoes, toys, household goods and so much more.

It’s all part of the Gulf Coast Association of Pride’s Indoor Yard Sale, which takes place on Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm and was made possible largely through community contributions.

“We have collected over the past month or so all these items through donations,” said Jerry Norman, GCAP’s Ms. Pride 2024.

According to Long Beach Presbyterian Church Clerk of Session Keith Cox, he and others at the church went the extra mile to make sure the yard sale could happen.

“This actually all started with one of our members, Jerry, came to me asking if they could host a yard sale out under our covered pavilion,” Cox said. “After talking it over, we decided to move it indoors where it was a little more comfortable, and I don’t think anybody had an idea of how big this was going to be.”

Proceeds from the event will benefit not just GCAP, but the many charities that the organization contributes to. Norman shared one of the organization’s most recent service projects.

“Recently, we spent $300 on backpacks for underprivileged children, it’s for their food program, a lot of these children don’t have food at home,” Norman said. “So these backpacks were provided in order for them to take food home so they have dinner every night.”

Many members of GCAP have put hours of hard work into the yard sale, and now, they hope to see a large turnout.

“The church has been incredible allowing us to do this, as well as the community has been amazing,” GCAP Vice President Joe Calametti said. “We definitely didn’t expect to receive all of the donations we did to be able to fill up this room here, and we hope to raise a lot of money.”

Members also believe that the yard sale will shine a light on community togetherness.

“I’m hoping people come for the turnout and buy and see what we’re all about… get rid of the barriers and come and enjoy fellowship and shop,” GCAP President Todd Sharp said.

“As a church, our motto is, ‘Reaching up to God, reaching out to others,’ so we are always trying to support the community in whatever way we can,” Cox added.

Long Beach Presbyterian Church is located at 208 South Burke Avenue.