Panorama Patio Sale – A Treasure Trove for a Good Cause

panorama patio sale
Hundreds of people line the gates to get into the annual Panorama Benevolent Fund Patio Sale. Now in its 45th year, the event takes place July 18 at Panorama in Lacey.
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By Nikki McCoy

panorama patio sale
Hundreds of people line the gates to get into the annual Panorama Benevolent Fund Patio Sale. Now in its 45th year, the event takes place July 18 at Panorama in Lacey.

Always held on the third Saturday in July, the Panorama Benevolent Fund Patio Sale is recognized as one of the largest sales in the Pacific Northwest. (It even has its own Yelp review – five stars!)

Nearly 600 people wait to get in the doors at 9:00 a.m. Hundreds more come throughout the day, until 3:30 p.m. when the sale ends, looking for that perfect item at a great price. Coffee, hot dogs, soda and ice cream keep shoppers fueled.

“People love it,” says Jo Love Beach, a volunteer of 14 years. “It’s a party atmosphere – they feel as if they’ve known each other, or they welcome newcomers.  It really is like an overgrown party.”

Over an acre of space is dedicated to this event, with seven different designated areas featuring items like housewares, books, jewelry, collectibles, linens, décor, toys, office supplies, tools, furniture, garden, art and more. “Think of all the things in your home,” explains volunteer Carol Thomas when talking about the wide variety of items for sale.

“We have beautiful things,” says Beach. “They are cleaned, priced, packed and taken care of.”

Many items are vintage, and Beach claims that every gadget ever invented for the kitchen can be found at the Patio Sale.

panorama patio sale
Thousands of items are for sale at the Panorama Patio Sale. “We have beautiful things,” says Jo Love Beach, a volunteer of 14 years,. “They are cleaned, priced, packed and taken care of.”

“This whole thing blows your mind, and it’s wonderful. It grows every year,” she says.

An organization that began in 1972, with just a handful of volunteers, the Panorama Benevolent Fund is a non-profit organization, founded by residents of the retirement community to provide assistance and support for the enrichment of life at Panorama.

The primary fundraiser for this program has been an annual Patio Sale which is composed of countless surplus items donated by residents of the Panorama community. The Patio Sale traces its roots back to 1970, before the Benevolent Fund Organization was officially formed.

Today, in its 45th year, the number of volunteers for the Benevolent Fund Patio Sale has grown to more than 500 people – the majority of the group being Panorama residents.

The Benevolent Fund works to serve the residents of Panorama, their families and the greater community. One of the important services is a three-person social services department for residents in Independent Living.

“The Social Services Department handles some of the things the community might not be able to bear, like workshops on safety, how to plan your wills, end-of-life planning and long-term planning,” explains Diane Stiles, manager of the Benevolent Fund Patio Sale.

panorama patio sale
A warehouse of housewares is only available at the Panorama Benevolent Fund Patio Sale.

“When we decided to retire, this was obviously the best place for us,” says Stiles. “We knew we wanted to be active volunteers. It’s good for the individual, good for the Panorama community, and good for the greater community.”

“One of the things we’ve discovered is Panorama keeps us young, active, and moving around, not just sitting in a chair and watching television.  And, it certainly keeps us mentally in shape,” she says.

A lot of planning goes into the Patio Sale.  The volunteer crew operates year-round in a nearby warehouse. Weeks of prep-work lead up to the event. An earlier sale is reserved for the Panorama community and Patio Sale volunteers.  But, come Saturday, when the tape is cut and the flag waves, the flow of public support is phenomenal.

“We all have a part in the development,” says Beach. “When you look at the fact that 500 are working –you can see that we touch the lives of so many of our Panorama residents. It’s the most fantastic thing you’ve ever seen.”

panorama patio sale“It’s not a garage sale – it’s definitely a step up from that,” agrees Stiles. “We’re very proud of what we’re doing.”

Panorama Benevolent Fund Patio Sale

Saturday, July 18 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

1751 Circle Ln SE in Lacey

Cash, Visa and MasterCard are all accepted.

 

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