Cokesbury’s white elephant sales

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A few items come from people on the complex’s waiting list, and donations continue as residents downsize from cottage to apartment to assisted living to healthcare and final resting place.

“After moving in, people discovered that they brought too much stuff,” Netherland said, citing personal experience. “Those of us who have lived here a long time are still going through our items. How much linens, luggage and kitchenware do you need?”

The sale now has three chairs: Pat Roy, who helps with downsizing; Don Moore, who handles furniture; and Netherland, who handles everything else.

The volunteers gather to process all that stuff 8:30-11 a.m. Tuesdays, except for the week of the sale and the week after, for a wrap-up meeting. Donations that are dirty or in poor condition are recycled or trashed. Donations are first split into big categories: furniture; books, CDs and DVDs; men’s items; and women’s items. Volunteers do some quality control, split the donations into subcategories, price them and box them. Each sorting area has short want-lists from residents, and volunteers buy a few treasures.

“I can dress my whole body for a party with items from the sale,” said Jeanne Gilligan.

The puzzle of pricing

Thanks to their skill in researching online, some prices are easy. That unused food mill that retails for $129? A Dooney & Bourke purse listed online at $243? Both will be bargains at $40. That pair of brass candlesticks that

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