By Karissa Minn
kminn@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY ó Helen Brownís next semi-annual yard sale to benefit cystic fibrosis research is coming up this Friday and Saturday.
It will be held Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at her home on 1621 Emerald St., near Knox Middle School in Salisbury.
This is the 17th year of Brownís yard sales, which she holds twice a year.
ěI enjoy having these sales. Iíve loved the people who come and the people who have shared goods with me,î Brown said. ěItís really been a very enjoyable way for me to raise this money.î
This past May, she achieved the goal she set eight years ago to raise $100,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
ěWith the last one, we raised $105,000, and I think thatís awesome to get for research at yard sales,î Brown said.
Now, she says sheís setting a new goal of $150,000. Brown, 78, had talked about letting someone else take up the project, but sheís not sure it would go on without her.
ěIíll just keep doing it as long as I can,î she said.
For 52 years, Brown has worked full-time managing Dr. Rudy Busbyís office, and she said the yard sales are like a second job for her these days.
They started when Brownís granddaughter, Anna Johnson, wanted to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Both of her grandchildren, Anna, 23, and 18-year-old Michael Johnson, have cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system.
Brown decided to have a yard sale, and then another. Now she and her husband, Ralph, have a basement and outdoor storage filled with donated items. People who contribute to the yard sale are given Cystic Fibrosis Foundation receipts for tax deductions.
About 25 to 30 volunteers help out during the yard sale.
ěOur grandchildren are doing so well because of research, and weíre happy to do this to help other people with cystic fibrosis,î Brown said.
Visitors will be able to register for a Bob Timberlake print giveaway. The drawing will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, and the winner does not need to be present.
Brown said new collectorís items this year include an autographed football from NFL player ěBoomerî Esiason and an autographed book and pictures from the NASCAR Allison family.
Shoppers can find a variety of household items at the yard sale, including furniture, kitchen items, small appliances, decorations, tools and electronics.
Families can browse for toys and games, nursery items, pet items, camping equipment, exercise equipment, golf clubs and bags, books and comic books.
Also for sale are gift items, greeting cards, pictures, arts and crafts, hair accessories, jewelry, purses, silver, crystal, linens, dishes, a í55 Bel Air insignia, DeSoto hubcaps, old pottery and old money.
For more information or to make an appointment to see large items before the sale, call 704-636-5902 after 7:30 p.m.