YMM Airport’s yard sale raises money for local charity
The Fort McMurray International Airport held its first “yard sale” in August and raised $5,344.36 for the YMM Community Investment Program.
Up for grabs were thousands of items that had been surrendered by travellers or left in the airports lost and found over the past three years.
Joanne Meredith, marketing coordinator with the Fort Murray Airport Authority told MyMcMurray that the event is a standard practice among airports across North America.
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She explained that travellers often forget that they have scissors, box cutters or X-ACTO knives in their bags.
“We did get some very strange items, there was an entire kitchen knife set that someone tried to take through once and some tools that can’t go through your carry-on bags,” said Meredith.
Once travellers no longer have the opportunity to check those items into their luggage, they are given the option of stepping out of the screening process to make alternate plans for the item, such as returning it to a vehicle, or they can surrender the item to the screening agent.
The event was a huge success and prices were very generous.
“Prices were very low, like buy 10 scissors for five bucks. Some of the multi-tools like Leatherman’s are valued at $200 on sale and we sold them for 10 bucks,” said Meredith.
Some higher value items such as Bose Headphones and a Nixon Watch were displayed as silent auction items, which garnered a total of $1,026 toward the total.
She added that the sole purpose of the sale was to raise money for the YMM Community Investment Program and see that the items had a second life.
The YMM Community Investment Program supports local charities including the 868 YMM Rotary Northstar Squadron Air Cadets, Fort McMurray Historical Society, Fort McMurray SPCA, United Way of Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association.
At this time there is not another yard sale scheduled, however once more items are collected Meredith noted that the airport would be holding another event.