Shoppers rummage for a deal at I.C. sale

IOWA CITY - If you're in the market for trunks, televisions or toys, you're in luck: Those are among the items being sold at Iowa City's fifth annual Rummage in the Ramp, being held through next Monday at the Chauncey Swan parking ramp.

Created and carried out by city Recycling Coordinator Jennifer Jordan and Neighborhood Services Coordinator Marcia Bollinger, the goal of the rummage sale is to reduce the number of usable items that end up in the trash while helping local non-profit organizations.

Last year, 28.2 tons of items were sold and diverted from the Iowa City, and $15,202 was raised for the 28 non-profit groups that provided volunteers to work the event.

“As students begin to leave their summer leases to move into places for the fall, a lot of items would end up in the Dumpsters,” Bollinger said. “With the rummage sale, we reduce the amount going to the landfill and organizations are able to earn some money for their causes - it's a win-win situation.”

During this year's 10-day sale, 30 local non-profits will send volunteers to help transport, sort and price items during four-hour shifts. At the end of the event, profits are split evenly among the organizations that contribute.

“Last year the average was $515 per shift,” Bollinger said. “We always want to improve and hope that this year it's even more.”

Early on Sunday afternoon, volunteers from Iowa Humane Alliance, an organization focused on reducing the amount of animals ending up in shelters, worked to sell as many items as possible to help raise funds for a new low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Cedar Rapids.

“We're trying to raise $50,000 in 50 days by helping with programs like this one so that we can put a down payment down on the location,” volunteer Mary Blount Mincey said. “This is a great event because we're keeping things out of the dump and having a lot of fun, too.”

Iowa City Parks and Recreation employee Otis Kuehne of Riverside said he has come out to the rummage sale at least once during each day of the event for the past five years - all in the hope of finding some good deals and support the community.

“Each year it's getting bigger and bigger,” Kuehne said. “The prices are so low and it helps good causes - you couldn't ask for a better situation.”