Garage sale at City College produces a positive outcome
By Tania Cervantes
Contributing writer
City College’s attempt to raise funds for classes by hosting a garage sale and flea market yielded positive results on Oct. 24.
“The event was successful in a number of ways,” said Milton Marks III, president of the board of trustees. “It helped to raise funds, which was the original intent, it served to raise awareness about the under funding of education and it brought people together by creating a sense of community.”
The revenue was generated by charging vendors $35 for two standard-size parking spaces at the Balboa Reservoir parking lot on Phelan Avenue. There were a total of 58 vendors.
Vendor Roberto Carlos said although he did not earn high profits, his primary reason for attending was to support the college.
“Its good to see students organize for their education,” he said. “If the government does not provide there has to be another way.”
According to Terry Hall, dean of instruction at City College, 270 classes were cut this fall semester and almost 400 will be slashed for spring 2010.
City College is not alone with its creativity to raise funds for education. De Anza College in Cupertino, Laney College in Oakland and Chabot College in Hayward have also hosted garage sales.
An estimated 60 volunteers helped out with Saturday’s garage sale, including faculty, classified employees and students, according to Martha Lucey, director of marketing and public information.
“When you have that many people give up their Saturday then you know people really care,” Lucey said.
It is still being considered whether the garage sale will become a recurring event, but Zen Trenholm, co-president of the CCSF Green Corps and vice-president of finance for the Associated Students hopes that this may be the first of many.
“If they were to do it more often, the garage sale is something the college could really benefit from,” he said. “I think this is just a trial-run, but it is a good idea. This has very much been a community effort.”