Garage sale to raise money for OC

On Friday and Saturday your gently used junk could help give back to Oklahoma Christian University.

The Oklahoma Christian Women’s Association is hosting a garage sale to raise money for the university. According to member Darla deSteiguer, OCWA is comprised of women wanting to give support to the university. Some of the members are alumni, while others are connected to Oklahoma Christian through a child or grandchild attending.

OCWA’s history dates back to 1955, not long after the university was founded. However, the group was called Stepping Stones when they first began.

Former President James Baird encouraged a group of ladies to help the needs of Christian education in Oklahoma. After that the group became the first women’s support organization for Christian colleges and continues to support colleges to this day.

“The ladies love to pick up projects that affect the most students,” Lauren Tallon, coordinator for OCWA, said.

OCWA hosts several fundraisers each year like the upcoming garage sale. The funds raised at their events throughout the year go toward projects submitted to the group by department heads.

Last year, the group raised approximately $3,000 and used some of the money to add scoreboards to the intramural fields.

Conchita Wilkerson has been a member of OCWA for the past four years and has assisted with the garage sale in past years.

“I love working with this godly group of women who love OC and want the best for the students here,” Wilkerson said.

According to Tallon, the OCWA garage sale is one of the biggest events they have over the course of the year due to the amount of donations received.

“[OCWA] found that this is just one of [OCWA’s] best fundraisers,” Tallon said. “People love a good garage sale. So, they have a lot of big items. They are able to raise a lot of money, so they keep doing it year after year.”

Every year, people will donate items for OCWA’s fundraisers. Items include furniture, books, clothes and household articles. deSteiguer said students might be able to find something of interest at the sale.

“If students would like to come out and shop, there are always a lot of clothes,” deSteiguer said.

deSteiguer said the group sees a number of eclectic items come through their sale.

“We are going to have the organ,” deSteiguer said. “There are always some very interesting things. Last year, we had one piece of furniture was a table from 1950. So it’s a mid-century modern coffee table. That was very interesting.”

Oklahoma Christian’s social service clubs have lent a helping hand in years past. This year, Chi Lambda Phi and Gamma Rho are going to help with the garage sale.

OCWA’s garage sale will start on Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and go through Saturday from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. The garage sale will be located in the Summit gym at Memorial Road Church of Christ. Donations can be dropped off on Thursday from 2 – 6 p.m. at the Summit.

“These ladies work really hard,” Tallon said. “They love the students. They love OC. They will do anything they can to raise money for it.”

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