Garage Sale benefitting Phillip's Wish

October 2008

The Keller Lions Club received its charter in 1948 and has been a major part of the community for 60 years, helping the residents in a number of ways. This year, they are lending a helping hand to a local non-profit that is dedicated to helping the homeless.

Cyndi Bunch, founder of Phillip's Wish, said the Keller Lions Club is sponsoring a community garage sale at their Keller location on Keller Parkway to help raise funds for this year's distribution of blankets and other items to the homeless.

"The Keller Lions Club is an outstanding organization and has a long-standing reputation for community service," Bunch said. "We are so grateful for their help this year in letting us hold a garage sale at their building. It is a great central location and we are hoping the community will participate in a big way, either by donating items for the sale or by shopping the sale."

Bunch began Phillip's Wish five years ago after her husband, Phillip Pruitt, was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic and began disappearing for days, living on the streets in east Fort Worth. As she and her son, Phillip, Jr., would drive through the area searching for her husband, Bunch's son saw the plight of the homeless and worried about them.

"I started Phillip's Wish in response to my son's desire to make sure all the people on the streets were warm on cold nights," Bunch said. "This year, with the economy taking such a downturn, I expect the problems of the homeless and the number of homeless to be even greater. That's why this garage sale is so important to us."

Bunch said there are several ways volunteers can help with the sale.

"First, we will need people to help sort, price and put out the items for the sale," Bunch said. "And of course we will need people to help with the sale Oct. 16-Oct. 19. Also, people can donate items to be sold, consign items to be sold or donate blankets or money that will be used to help buy items for the homeless."

Donations or consignments for the sale may be dropped off at the Lions Club at 532 W. Keller Parkway beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. until noon and from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sale hours are Oct. 16, 8 a.m. until noon and 2 p.m. until 8 p.m.; Oct. 17, 8 a.m. until noon and 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.; Oct. 18, 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and Oct. 19, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. All consignment items must be picked up by 3 p.m. on Oct. 19 or they will be forfeited.

"The weather is still warm, but cold days are not that far away and the men, women and children who live on the streets will need our help to stay a little warmer this winter," Bunch said. "We also need more volunteers to help with the delivery of the blankets in December. I'd just like to thank everyone in advance for their help, because it will take all of us working together to help end homelessness."

For information about the sale, log onto www.2008sale.org or call 817-907-6115.