HARVIN COLUMN: Digging for treasures helps others in the process

Early Saturday morning. One cup of coffee. One pair of jeans. And time to rummage through other people’s cast-offs for that perfect treasure.

If that sounds like an ideal way to spend a morning, you are in luck. Four major sales are coming up this week, and you can troll to your heart’s content. And the best part is that they raise money for great causes, and they appeal to different audiences.

The first one is the Mom to Mom Consignment Sale, the big fundraiser for the Mothers Offering Mothers Support Clubs in Mount Pleasant. The sale features toys, books, fall and winter clothing, baby equipment, bedding, furniture and more from some 100 consignors and vendors. The sale accepts credit cards, and there is a $1 admittance fee that goes to charity.

This sale is a great way to get used children’s clothing and toys since the consignors are members of the MOMS Clubs and not professionals. According to the website, they already have all the items they need for this sale, in part because the date of the sale was moved from Sept. 29 to Saturday.

But be there early or you won’t get the best stuff. The sale starts at 7 a.m. at the National Guard Armory, 245 Mathis Ferry Road.

The women of Cherokee Place United Methodist Church also will hold their 36th annual rummage sale 7 a.m.-noon Saturday. The proceeds from the sale fund the United Methodist Women’s ongoing mission projects.

Because they have been running this sale for so long, it is smoothly organized, and it is also in a section of town that allows neighbors in need to have access to the deeply discounted items. The location is 2105 Cosgrove Ave., North Charleston.

And downtown, the Unitarian Church offers clothes, shoes, books, toys, electronics, household items and more. The proceeds benefit the church and community, and that sale runs 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday. It’s a chance to see all the improvements to historic Gage Hall while you are there. The church is at 4 Archdale St.

If books and movies are more your speed, then save your pennies for the 30th annual That Big Book Sale put on by the Friends of the Library. And yes, you really can buy things for pennies since prices start at $1 for paperbacks and $3 for hardback books. There also will be DVDs and CDs. Items include mysteries, romances, classics, children’s books, local histories, cookbooks and a variety of nonfiction topics.

If you have ever been to this sale, you know that it takes time to rummage through all the offerings, and if you have a popular favorite topic like cookbooks, it pays to get there early.

If you are just browsing, any time is a good time to go.

The sale runs 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 13, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14.

It has been moved this year to the Omar Shrine Temple, 176 Patriots Point Road in Mount Pleasant, because of renovations to the Gaillard Auditorium, so make sure you check your GPS while you are waiting on that latte.

Reach Stephanie Harvin at sharvin@postandcourier.com or 937-5557.