Town-Wide Yard Sale This Saturday, April 17

Over 100 Households Participating

Madison, NJ – April 15, 2021 - The Madison-Chatham Town-Wide Yard Sale is officially a blockbuster: 112 households and organizations have signed up to list their sales on a digital map, raising a total of $1120 for the Great Swamp Watershed Association, a nonprofit devoted to sustainability.

The Town-Wide Yard Sale will be held rain or shine this Saturday, April 17 from 9am to 1pm. Shoppers can access the digital map and spreadsheet that lists addresses and items for sale by visiting www.rosenet.org/yardsale 

Among the sales not to miss: the Library of the Chathams at 214 Main Street, is holding an outdoor book sale that will feature a portion of the 40,000 donated books, CDs and puzzles that have stranded in the library basement since the start of the pandemic. Debbie Fabian and Maureen Kelly, co-chairs of the book sale, decided the Town-Wide Yard Sale was the perfect moment to tote donated books to the Library lawn. “People are clamoring for books,” says Fabian. “This is a great way to support the community.”

In Madison, the Independent Thrift Store at 39 Kings Road will donate ten percent of the day’s proceeds to the Great Swamp Watershed Association, according to manager Cookie Warren. “We’re supporting Earth Month with a sidewalk sale and bargain prices for jeans, coats, watches and other items.”

“It’s exciting to see Madison teaming up with our neighbors to create an even more impactful community event,” says Mayor Robert Conley. “We’re proud that this year’s yard sale not only keeps waste out of the landfill, it directly supports the Great Swamp Watershed Association, which does so much to promote clean water and sustainable living in our communities.” 

Shoppers are kindly reminded to wear masks and yard-sale hosts are asked to provide hand sanitizer and set up their sales to facilitate social distancing.

The Environmental Commissions of Madison and the Chathams are working to make this a zero waste event by asking yard sale hosts to donate their leftovers to local charities. Among the groups that will pick up donations of clothing and household items are the Vietnam Veterans of America (vva.org), GreenDrop (gogreendrop.com), the Market Street Mission (marketstreet.org) and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore (morrisrestore.org/donate), which does some pickups and accepts antiques, furniture, flooring, brand new plumbing, painting supplies, doors and more.

Madison residents may also post items on Madison Swap and Share NJ, a new Facebook group. “Everything is free. It’s a great site for decluttering—and asking to borrow items for weddings, parties or other needs,” says Kirsten Wallenstein, a co-founder and MEC member. “In less than a year, this page has become hugely popular, going from zero to more than 1800 members.”

For questions regarding the yard sale, please contact MEC@rosenet.org.