BROOKINGS The Deubrook Backpack Program has a simple mission: Donyce Eekhoff, a long-time volunteer, notes that it sends home nutritional food for children who are identified by the school that might need some extra nutrition over the weekend.
The DBP has served those students who are among the more than 400 Deubrook School District students in pre-K and K-12 in schools located in Toronto and White. A group works all school year long to accomplish the DBP mission. Some people purchase the food for the backpacks. Another group discretely delivers the food to the school that is put in the childrens lockers.
The backpack program has been has been going for sometime, Eekhoff explained. The reason the rummage sale came about was because they were short of funds three years ago. Another group came up with a way to support them financially and this rummage sale was what we came up with.
The sale provides some help for financing the program and provided it with about $6,000 from the 2024 sale. Eekhoff is not familiar with all the funding thats goes to support the program, but did note that United Way now also provides some funding.
The organization that oversees the DBP and the rummage sale brings together volunteers with ties to the school system and to area churches, two of which were used for the sale in the past. The sale has been a learning process for all the groups and individuals involved.
“We gain knowledge every time we do one,” Eekhoff said, as the third annual sale gets closer. We started out having it at the Lutheran church and last year it was at the Methodist church. But we worried the whole time that we might need a church for a funeral or some other event.
The whole thing is so huge it took over our churches. So we asked the school if we could use the (high school auxiliary gym in White). And they were happy to allow us to come in. So we shortened up our time frame so that we were only in their gym a week.
Drop-off times, days and dates are: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 28 through July 30. Location: Deubrook High School Auxiliary Gym, White. Follow the signs and enter through the south door in the alley. Sale organizers are requesting that donated clothing is wearable and that all other donated items are usable.
We have three or four things going on here, Eekhoff explained, offering an overall view of all that goes into the annual rummage sale. Were happy for all the people who donate, their generosity. Then there are different people who come and work. Theres a lot of sorting, trying to make it easy for the shopper. We have the people who donate to us, the people who work at sorting and putting (the donations) out; and then we have our shoppers. Its just amazing to me how generous people are with their time and their money. Its a community effort.
Blessing to give, to receive
That community effort comes to fruition in the third rummage sale, the Deubrook Backpack Fundraiser at the Deubrook High School Auxiliary Gym; the dates and times are: July 31, 4 to 7 p.m.; Aug. 31, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Aug. 2, 8 a.m. to noon.
The sale is being promoted as something for everyone. Buyers can expect to find already-sorted clothing (all sizes for men, women and children), shoes, purses, jewelry, toys, kitchen and household items, books, games, home dcor, pictures, tools, antiques, antique chairs and lawn chairs. And the price is right: a freewill offering for all items. Bottom line: DBP bills the for-sale inventory as too many items to list! Dont miss out on a great buy!
We have a lot of people who are downsizing, Eekhoff said next, citing some of the sources of items for the sale. And then weve had as lot of people from Brookings whose parents are going into assisted living and theyll bring us all their electrical appliances and stuff like that. Theres a need in various homes for those things. Its a blessing, really, for people who want to donate where it will do some good and its a blessing to those people who need it.
Think of the economy right now and the price of groceries. I feel the need is going to grow this year because of the prices of everything. But also, Brookings County is very generous to their children and thats the best part of all of it: peoples generosity. Were grateful for all of that.
Any questions, need more information? Give Donyce Eekhoff a call at 605-695-4825.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
Leave a Reply