What is involved in volunteering for the Nearly New Sale?
The Sale is entirely run by volunteers, over 100 of them. Most of the work is done during the five days of the Sale (Wednesday through Sunday), but volunteers also help with other tasks before then and afterwards.
How do I volunteer? If you are not already on our email list – or not sure whether you are – email Lizzie and Ginny Gray at nwcnns.volunteer@gmail.com giving your name, email address, and phone number(s). You will be emailed about 1 month in advance of each Sale with the schedule of the Sale shifts. Most shifts last about 3 hours. From the schedule, select the shift, or shifts, that suit your timetable and let them know in your reply.
To volunteer without using a computer, phone Lizzie and Ginny at 802-526-9132. Leave a message with your name, postal address, phone number(s), and a good time for one of them to call you back with details of available shifts. A week before the Sale you will receive an email confirming your shift time.
Can my friend volunteer with me? We are always delighted to welcome new volunteers, so please let us have their name, postal address if possible, email address and phone number.
I’ve never done this before: how will I know what to do? Each Sale shift has its own supervisor who will allocate the volunteers to the different jobs that are needed, and give them the necessary guidelines and instructions.
During the Clothing Inspection shifts on Wednesday from noon to 7 pm, Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm and Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, every item of clothing that is brought in has to be inspected (good inspectors are methodical, meticulous, sharp-eyed) and folded or hung (which suits volunteers who are neat, tidy, methodical.) Because we have increased the number of items each consignor can bring we will need more inspectors than in the past, but you should be prepared to also hang items when not needed as an inspector.
During the Sale shifts on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday, when the public come in to buy the clothing, we need volunteers to re-fold or re-hang the clothing and to help at the cash registers, de-tagging and bagging purchased clothing.
There are also Set Up shifts on Wednesday morning from 8 am to noon and Take Down shifts on Sunday afternoon from 2:30 to 5pm: as their names suggest, these shifts are when the racks, mirrors, tables, etc, are set up, and then dismantled and taken back to storage. While we always need strong-armed volunteers for these shifts, we also welcome children 5th grade and up* at Take Down who can help fold unsold clothes, collect clothes hangers, etc.
*Can my children work with me?
● Children in 8th grade and up can work with you or another supervising adult, as long as they are prepared to work a full shift, folding and hanging clothing.
● If they are high school juniors or seniors, or older, they may work unaccompanied.
● All Hanover High School students who work shifts at the Nearly New Sale are eligible for community service credit.
● Children in 5th grade and up can accompany a parent to work the Sunday Take Down shift.
The Sale is not a safe or suitable working environment for younger children.
What benefit do I get from volunteering at the Sale?
● Helping us raise $20,000 a year which is goes toward our need-based education scholarships to Norwich residents, and our community project grants program
● Meeting other friendly people – shifts are 10 to 15 strong
● Community service credit for Hanover High School student volunteers
● Eligibility to attend the Workers’ Sale which runs on Friday afternoon before the public Grand Opening
● Previewing items on the racks
● Having FUN!
