Zap Holiday Stress with a Cleansing Junque Drop-off!

Are you stressed about the upcoming holidays? Need a little relief? We’ve got the solution: Donate some of your gently-used items to the MV Big Flea this Sunday, November 22 from 1-3pm.

You want your home to be perfect for the holidays, right? But what about all that stuff that’s just laying around? I’ve got girls’ figure skates under my bed and a big box of CDs in my office. And don’t even get me started on the china cabinet and basement.

Clutter is stressful. Clearing your home of unwanted items, and donating them to the MV Big Flea, eliminates more stress than a Red Door spa treatment. Best of all, 100% of your donations are tax deductible and benefit the educational programs of the Mount Vernon Community School in Del Ray.

Our pre-Holiday drop-off will take place on Sunday, November 22 from 1-3pm at 409 E. Alexandria Avenue in Del Ray. All you have to do is show up with the items you’d like to donate. It’s that simple! (Please click here for donation guidelines).

Thanks to your support, we’ve raised $37,197 for our kids’ education. Let’s keep up the great work and have a happy, stress-free holiday season.

Shout out to the Krupicka Family

Many thanks to Rob and Lisa Krupicka for donating 1/2 of their garage as storage space for Big Flea donations. It’s parents like this that make the Big Flea what it is—a huge fundraiser for the Mount Vernon Community School PTA.

Desperately Seeking Storage

The Big Flea needs storage space. Alot of storage space. Mount Vernon Community School parent volunteers are busy collecting items for sale at the Big Flea, Alexandria’s largest charity flea market, which takes place April 24, 2010 at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. But we need somewhere to store the items as they are donated. We will be having monthly drop offs of donations for the next several months and then weekly drop offs as the event draws closer. Our volunteers will take care of all of the coordination of donation drop offs. Do you have a garage, basement, large closet (just kidding!), or other such space you could kindly donate to the cause? All proceeds from the Big Flea go to support kids at the school. Please contact Maria Getoff at mgetoff@gmail.com or (703) 338-7748 if you can help. Also, check out our website at www.mvbigflea.com.

Big Flea Institutes Monthly Drop Offs–First one is November 22nd

Just in time for Thanksgiving! Trying to de-clutter before the holiday? The Big Flea is accepting drop-off donations at its storage site: 409 E. Alexandria Avenue on Sunday, November 22nd–from 1-3pm only. Your donations enable the Mount Vernon Community School PTA to raise money for student enrichment programs. We are accepting donations now in anticipation of our Big Flea event on April 24, 2010.

The MV Big Flea accepts items that have resale value. In recent years, that has included electronics, furniture, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, kids items (toys, strollers), bicycles, household furnishings, sporting goods, artwork, small appliances and more. If you think your item can be resold, we’ll likely accept it.

We’ve also learned that some items just aren’t right for the MV Big Flea. As a result, we cannot accept the following items for donation:

- Clothing
- Chandeliers/ceiling fans
- Large upholstered furniture, beds or cribs
- Stuffed animals
- Building supplies
- Pillows/curtains/linens
- TVs (flatscreen OK) or computer hardware
- Books (Contact Thom Downing, Friends of Duncan Library, at iuthom@aol.com)

For more information, please contact our Curator Cynthia Webster at cynwebster@earthlink.net or 703.549.3501. Or, visit our website: www.mvbigflea.com

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Clunkers for Kids

Calling All Cars!

Looking for a nice tax deduction? Need some additional parking space in your driveway? Donate your old car to the Big Flea! Please contact Liz Wixson at lizwixson1@hotmail.com for more information. In addition to a great tax deduction and the good feelings you’ll enjoy knowing that your donation will help the MVCS community, Liz will wash and wax your old junker……no need for you to do a thing except hand over the keys and title!

OMG…Can It Be???

Yes sirreee! We’re back and once again ready to accept your treasures!

I know, I know…it’s hard to believe. But Mount Vernon Community School parents are a diligent, industrious group! Even though the MV Big Flea won’t be held until April 24th, we’re ready to start accepting your donations and selling them from our website (think of it as the pre-Flea).

Now in its fourth year, the Big Flea has raised $37,197 for Alexandria public school students. We’ve done it by shamelessly begging and pleading for the treasures hiding out in your attic, basement and closets. We’ve then sold them at a fantastic markup and spent the proceeds to improve our schools. Best of all, you get a tax break (and a cleaner house) when you make a donation!

Our goal is to punch through the $50,000 barrier in 2010. To reach this lofty goal, we’ve got to start cracking. That’s why we’re now accepting your donations and selling them online. Over the years, we’ve received collectibles, small appliances, electronics, bicycles, kids gear, furniture, sporting equipment, home furnishings and much, much more. Your generosity has made this event a smashing success and we want that to continue in 2010.

Do you have treasures to donate? Let us know and we’ll take them off your hands! Unfortunately, there are some items we cannot accept, but in general we will take just about anything of value. To donate, please contact the MV Big Flea Curator Cynthia Webster at cynwebster@earthlink.net or at 703-549-3501.

Price Brothers Movers Make Big Donation

For the second year in a row Price Brothers Movers will donate a moving truck and driver to help MVCS parent and staff volunteers get all the great donated items from our storage spaces to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center for the big day. This is a very significant donation of time and money and we are very appreciative. Price Brothers Movers was originally recommended to us by fellow MVCS parent Laura Dove, who helps many young people on Capitol Hill move in and out of the area and she thinks Price Brothers is a great moving company. Last year, Price Brothers moved two families who left Mt. Vernon. James Price of Price Brothers Movers can be reached at (301) 943-0540. Please consider him for your next move.

The Goodies Start Rolling In….

We had a great day of pickups and deliveries on Satuday.   Kudos to MVCS Dads Terrance Taylor — who worked 2 Saturdays in a row picking up donated items – and Kevin Curry for helping with this weekend’s load of treats.

This week we received from John Griffin a bunch of household items and some furniture; he has a week old son so it’s out with the old and in with the new.  The Lubold family donated a play kitchen that is getting a lot of interest on Craigslist.  Deborah Crabtree–a neighbor’s loss is our gain–donated a desk intended for the neighbor when they weren’t able to pick it up and our volunteers were!

But there’s more.  Nicole Devore donated lots of cute furniture and household decorating items.  The McDonald family donated a  very nice antique sideboard (I think Brian’s wanted to get rid of it for years).   Lori Kreger stopped by to drop-off donated goods and wound up purchasing a framed print while she was at our storage unit!  Now that’s what I call the ideal MV Big Flea participant – giving and buying at the same time!

Remember, we’ll be holding drop offs and pickup every Saturday until April 18.  You can also plan to drop off your items at the MV Rec Center on Friday, April 24 (Big Flea Eve).  For more information about pickups, purchases and drop offs, please contact Cynthia Webster (CynWebster@earthlink.net) or 703.549.3501. 

Many thanks for your support!

Bring Out Your Junque This Saturday!

OK folks, it’s time to unclutter those closets, open those attics and clean out those basements!  The MV Big Flea #3 is ready to start taking your valuable treasures off your hands and put them to good use!

For those “not in the know,” the MV Big Flea is Alexandria’s giant  charity fundraiser flea market to benefit Del Ray’s Mount Vernon Community School (www.wordpress.mvbigflea.com).  You donate your junque and receive a tax deduction; we sell it and keep the proceeds.   Everyone wins!  It’s that simple!

This Saturday, March 7, is our first collection date.  Between 10am and 12pm you can drop-off items at 409 E Alexandria Avenue in Del Ray.  Unfortunately, we cannot accept linens, upholstered furniture, computer monitors or clothing of any kind.

Other than that…bring it ON!  We can also pick up selected larger items or groups of items.

We’ll accept drop-offs and arrange pickups every Saturday until the event on April 25.  You can also plan to bring your treasures to the MV Rec Center on April 24th (Big Flea Eve).  So forget about Goodwill or that yard sale you’re planning.  Just give your junque to us!

If you have any questions about the MV Big Flea, please contact the appropriate person below.  Many thanks and we look forward to a great event this year!

Maria Getoff
Event Chair/Mrs. Fred Sanford
mgetoff@gmail.com
703.338.7748

Cynthia Webster
Pickup/Dropoff Coordinator
Cynwebster@earthlink.net
703.549.1501

Heather Martin
Volunteer Coordinator
heather_martin22305@yahoo.com
703.549.5629

Joseph LaMountain
Chair Emeritus/Communications Czar
joseph.lamountain@gmail.com
703.836.4536

Many thanks for your ongoing support of this event.  In the last 2 years we’ve raised more than $26,000 for after school clubs, field trips, teacher stipends and other important programs at the MV Community School!

Joe

Mahogany Chest Up For Grabs

I mentioned in my last post that Margo and Larry Williams were donating a cabinet to the MV Big Flea.  They certainly did not disappoint!

We’re now offering this great mahogany, Art-Deco influenced chest for sale.  Retrofitted with shelves, it would be ideal in the bedroom for storing clothes or in the family room to hold a television and entertainment center.  The dimensions are 34×38x22 and the cost is $195.

Want early notification of items for sale?  The join our Facebook group.  You’ll also receive FREE early admission to the MV Big Flea, a $10 value.  If interested in the cabinet (more photos available), have items to donate, would like to volunteer or have any questions about the event, please contact event organizer Joseph at joseph.lamountain@gmail.com.

It’s a Good Thing I Wasn’t Born a Girl…

Why does it feel like the 2009 MV Big Flea has already started? Maybe because people are already contacting me with stuff they want to donate for sale.

Each year it seems like we get started earlier and earlier. In 2007, our first year, we pulled this whole thing together in less than 8 weeks. In 2008, we started in February, four months before the event. And here we are selling stuff in November, six months in advance!

You know what my problem is? I just can’t say “no” to all these great treasures. If I was a girl, that could get me in a lot of trouble ( am I allowed to say that?).

This week, Todd and Kelley Schuerhoff of Del Ray donated a mess of great items. They’re renovating their basement and can’t wait to get rid of their 42″ Mitsubishi television, 15″ LCD television, stereo equipment, speakers and a nice Ikea wooden bench. Larry and Margo Williams are also donating a large cabinet, which I have yet to see, but I’m sure will be very nice. And Mark Higgans, who gave us some great items last year, is thinking about donating a green leather sofa.

Of course, I’m more than happy to take these items off their hands and offer them for sale to the fine citizens of Alexandria and beyond. After all, the proceeds from the sale of these items help fund important programs at the Mount Vernon Community School in the Del Ray section of Alexandria. Just click on the “For Sale” sign and the Ebay link at left.

I’ll continue to sell items throughout the holidays (provided people keep donating stuff), so keep visiting this page. Better yet, join our Facebook group for advance notice of sales and FREE early admission to our sale on April 25. Sayonara!

FOR SALE: A Faux-bulous Jewelry Collection

We received an awesome collection of vintage costume jewelry last night, probably 200 pieces in all. I’d like to sell this as a collection if possible so if you are interested, please let me know.

The donors? Our good friends Sabrina and David Detlef of Del Ray. Last year the Detlefs donated a ton of great items, including a calculator we sold for more than $100! Sabrina’s mom, who built the collection, was a teacher and “would be proud to see it’s sale was helping local students” Sabrina said.

I’d also like to give a big shout out to Ali Anderson of Del Ray. She donated a bookcase, armoire and gun cabinet she “inherited” when purchasing their current home. She donated them to us and we sold them last weekend for $277, our first sale for the 2009 event.

Many thanks for your support of this event. Please also consider joining our Facebook group.   Members get free early admission to the MV Big Flea on April 25, 2009 (a $10 value) and early notification of items for sale (like this jewelry collection).

Want Great Deals & Free Admission? Join our Facebook Group

Although the MV Big Flea #3 wont take place until April 25, 2009 we are already collecting and selling great items. Want to get early notice of these great sales? Then click here to join our Facebook group.

In addition to great deals, every member of our Facebook group will FREE early admission to the MV Big Flea #3 – a $10 value. You’ll also have the opportunity to help us spread the word about this important event to thousands of FB users in the Washington, DC metro area. Don’t delay, join today!

Save the Date: April 25, 2009!

Everyone knows that I am a tad bit obsessive about this event.  There are 257 days to go until “Big Flea #3″ but I am already worrying about the date. 

Why worry?  Believe it or not, we get about 50 visitors to the website each week.  We’ve even gotten a few calls from people asking if they can donate items or volunteer.  By announcing this year’s date so far in advance, I hope we can cut down on any confusion and get everyone pumped for 2009.

We’ve just started a Facebook group so pleasde be sure to join for news, updates and early news on great deals!  You can join by clicking here and visiting our group page.

Drum Roll, Please…

We are thrilled to report that we raised $10,471 at the MV Big Flea last Saturday, April 26.  Added to the sales we made before the event, we raised a total of $18,226!  This represents a 117% increase over the amount raised last year.

Thanks to your support, the Mount Vernon Community School PTA can continue to improve the lives of Alexandria’s public school students.  The funds we raised will be used for after school clubs, field trips, teacher supplies and extracurricular events like Hispanic Heritage Night and the Family Fun Fair.

This event has been a lot of fun and I’ve received many nice comments from many of you.  Thank you again for your support of this event and our school PTA.  Please feel free to contact me if I can ever be of assistance to you.