Oakland Museum raises $1.6 Million from White Elephant sale

This year’s White Elephant sale topped the charts by earning $1.6 million from its annual event in March. For the 52nd year in a row, the Oakland Museum Women’s Board organized this gigantic rummage sale where people can find anything from picnic baskets to record players to wedding dresses. All proceeds from the sale benefit the Oakland Museum of California.

“This year we raised $1.6 million and set a new record,” said Sheri Guthrie, marketing chair of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, in a museum press release. “We thank all our wonderful donors and shoppers for their support and gratefully acknowledge the more than 1,000 volunteers whose untiring efforts continue to make the White Elephant Sale a huge success.”

The way the annual event works is that during the fall anyone can donate items, including clothing, jewelry, furniture, tools, sporting goods, electronics and more, to the White Elephant sale. Then, volunteers sort, tag and price the items for the sale that takes place in March.

Donations are now needed for the 2012 sale—starting in the fall, people can drop off donations at 333 Lancaster Street from 10 am to 1 pm on September 24, October 22, November 19 and December 10. More dates will be available in January and February 2012. A van is also available to pick up donations Tuesdays through Sundays and can be scheduled by calling 510-839-5919.

For a list of acceptable items, visit www.WhiteElephantSale.org or call 510-536-6800. Next year’s White Elephant sale will be during the weekend of March 3, 2012 and a preview sale is scheduled for January 29, 2012.