PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
COLLECTORS GALORE … John Engler of Bryan, known as “I’m The Collector 4 U,” sells a collector’s item during the 127 Yard Sale at New Hope Community Church on Thursday, Aug. 6.
127 YARD SALE … Among the vendors participating in this year’s 127 Yard Sale at New Hope Community Church in Bryan were Debbie Shoptau (left) and Vicki Eidenier (right) preparing to sell used clothing at the Victoria’s Curvy Closet tent.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Described as “The World’s Longest Yard Sale,” the annual 127 Yard Sale opened for its four-day run on Thursday, Aug. 6, as bargain hunters ventured into Northwest Ohio for the summertime bargain-shopping adventure.
As bargain hunters ventured onto U.S. Route 127 between Bryan and West Unity, plenty of roadside tents were already set up, displaying lots of garage-sale-type items for purchase along the route.
The 127 Yard Sale covers six states — Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama — and 690 miles on its route, beginning five miles north of Addison, Michigan, and ending in Gadsden, Alabama.
One of the most popular 127 Yard Sale stops was at New Hope Community Church just north of Bryan.
There were over 40 vendors selling clothing in various sizes for everyone, along with new and used toys, used tools, handmade crafts, household items and even a slime shop.
Cammie Short, who serves as the discipleship pastor at New Hope Community Church, said the church is blessed to be a stopping point for the yard sale, which was full of vendors and bargain hunters.
“It’s a great thing for the community to be able to come in, use the indoor restrooms and just see our kids’ space,” said Short.
“It’s a great way for people to just realize on who we are as a church and want to be open just for our community.”
Not only did the 127 Yard Sale attract hundreds of people to New Hope, but the church also operated a food stand, serving breakfast and lunch to the bargain hunters.
All of the proceeds from the food sales, as well as vendor rental fees, will go toward supporting the church’s mission work in Uganda.
“One of the things we especially want to do is just see people as they come, talk to them and let them know that they are valuable and important, and hopefully have the opportunity to just share Jesus with them,” said Short.
Among the local vendors was Vicki Eidenier of Pioneer. She, along with her college classmate Debbie Shoptau of Huntington, Indiana, was busy arranging clothes for resale for her own yard sale business, “Victoria’s Curvy Closet.”
As a member of New Hope Community Church, Eidenier already knew it was a big fundraiser for the church’s mission program and wanted to support it.
“I wanted to support that (mission program) and try to sell some of my extra clothes,” said Eidenier. “I’m happy with the results of what we got so far, but we’re hoping to have more people to come out.”
Eidenier is hoping the clothing she is selling will help people who maybe cannot afford to buy new.
“I’m not only into making money, but I wanted to be something that everybody can enjoy,” she said.
“I’ve been trying not to let myself go shopping, so I don’t spend my earnings, and everybody should come out.”
John Engler of Bryan, known as “I’m The Collector 4 U,” has participated in the 127 Yard Sale at New Hope for the past 10 years and has been collecting and selling his accumulation of collectibles since he was in high school in the 1970s.
His tent included Hot Wheels cars, Star Wars, Star Trek and Harry Potter items, all remaining in their original packages to bring more value.
Engler admitted he caught the collecting bug in 1978 after he watched Star Wars at the Bryan Theater, where he continued to watch it 17 more times after that.
“They had put out 12 action figures after the first release of Star Wars, and I bought all of them and that just started everything,” said Engler.
“I don’t buy anything that I don’t like, but if I get stuck with it, I still like it.”