More than three decades ago, (in 1988), the Laura Jones Circle of the United Methodist Women (UMW) embarked on a journey to bring awareness of the need to increase church funds allocated for mission projects. Betty Warstler led the UMW group in brainstorming ideas and together they worked to organize the first church-wide yard sale (Christmas in July) raising $7,541.30 for missions!
Later morphing into the First United Methodist Church’s Annual Bazaar, this flagship fundraiser held every July, is now sponsored by the entire congregation along with other churches in the area and has grown leaps and bounds raising more than $800,000 to date to provide funds for local, regional, national, and global mission work. Just a sampling of the organizations and areas that mission funds have contributed to include: CareNet, Reach, UMCOR Disaster Relief, Free Dental Clinic, Health Clinic, Stop Hunger Now, Kids Place, Macon Program for Progress-Holiday Angels, youth mission trips, No Wrong Door Homeless Shelter, as well as requests from groups in the community seeking funds for grants focused on helping those in need.
This largest “yard-sale” in the Franklin area (over thousands of items available across all categories) will take over the buildings at the Macon County Fairgrounds on July 17th from 8 am to 3 pm and July 18th from 8 am to 1 pm. Net proceeds from all Bazaar activities will be designated for mission projects and grants.
