Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
12:00-5:00 pm
About the Event
Rather than a traditional yard sale, the Salvage Sale is a two-part shopping experience: a curated secondhand sale where 100% of the proceeds go to the Growing Center; and a Makers' Market filled with local craft vendors who participate for a nominal fee but keep all their proceeds. It's like a vintage sale and artisan market all in one!
"What's cool about this event is that it attracts all ages - from 22 year-olds to 72 year-olds, they're all just looking for bargains - and community!"
-Emma, long-time Salvage Sale volunteer
How to Donate Goods & Clothing
The Seasonal Salvage Sale is a curated yard sale - much like shopping at a vintage market! Those are the kinds of items we are seeking. Check the back of your closets, your attic, or your parents' house for unused but quality items. We are accepting donations AT the Growing Center, 22 Vinal Ave, Somerville, on these dates:
Dropoff Dates for Salvage Sale Donations:
Sun., Oct. 18: 10:00-noon
Thurs, Oct. 22: 4:30-6:30 pm
Fri, Oct. 23: 3:30-6:30 pm
We're looking for carefully selected donations of:
*Women's and men's clothing (Your old t-shirt collection? NO THANKS. A nice cardigan, tunic, skirt, dress or dress shirt? YES!)
*Accessories, belts, bags, nice totes
*Jewelry
*Table linens (cloth napkins, tablecloths, placemats, runners)
*Fabrics and high-quality yarn for DIY projects (these are POPULAR, esp. fabric!)
*Handmade or well-made ceramics, pottery items
*Nice, unique or funky bowls, serving trays, serving utensils, etc.
*Art prints and framed art
*Unique kitchen and home decor items
*Coffee table / photography books
*Art/garden/cooking books (no other kinds of books, please)
We do NOT accept: Electronics, appliances, furniture (unless small and in very good condition), lightbulbs, dishes, glassware, fiction/nonfiction books, kids' clothes/toys.
We donate unsold items to reuse organizations like Thrifty Threads, Helpsy, Habitat ReStore and More Than Words after the event.
But if you sign up to help with Clean-up Crew, you can take home anything you want that's leftover!
Questions on donating, or want someone to come to you to pick up? Email betsy@thegrowingcenter.org.
Donation Dropoff Dates
Sun, Oct. 18: 10 am - noon
Thurs, Oct. 22: 4:30-6:30 pm
Fri, Oct. 23: 3:30-6:30 pm
NOTE: All Donation Dropoffs take place at the Growing Center, 22 Vinal Avenue, Somerville.
Volunteer Info Sessions
Mon, Oct. 5, 5:30-7:00 pm
Sun, Oct. 18, 10:30-noon
All are welcome - whether you are a seasoned volunteer or have never volunteered with us! We will have hot tea and snacks to nibble on-hand.
First 30 min: Meetup, hang out, have tea!
Next hour: Info Session
Learn more about volunteering AT the Salvage Sale and donating TO the Salvage Sale, and meet new like-minded people, too!
How to Volunteer
The Seasonal Salvage Sale & Makers' Market is a really fun community event, a great way to meet new people, and a wonderful fundraiser for the Friends of the Community Growing Center. But we can't pull it off without the help of a lot of volunteers. Visit our Signup Genius page to sign up today! No special skills needed except enthusiasm!
Tasks: Collecting, sorting, pricing, organizing, set-up, bake sale, hosting/ greeting, checkout, clean-up
Pre-sale Shifts: 2, 2.5 and 3-hour shifts, starting Thurs 10/22
Sale Day shifts: 2, 2.5 and 3-hour shifts, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sign up here:
Contact with questions: Betsy, betsy@thegrowingcenter.org
Become a Makers' Market Vendor!
Each year, we showcase a Makers' Market filled with about a dozen local craft vendors who participate for a nominal fee but keep all the proceeds of their sales. Vendors pay $25 for a space and are expected to be set up for all 5 hours of the sale.
Vendors must bring their own 6- or 8-foot tables (limit one table per vendor), and due to space limitations, no tents are permitted. There is limited access to electrical outlets, so electricity is not guaranteed. There is also no WiFi.
Reserve your spot as a vendor! Space is limited and filling up fast!
