MARYSVILLE — This year’s Junktique sales by the Marysville Chapter of Soroptimist International fell short of last year’s totals.

Still, event organizers appreciate the crowds who came out to the Jennings Park barns on Saturday, May 10, to help fund Soroptimist programs intended to serve the needs of women and girls.

Carol Biegler, who coordinated this year’s Junktique with her fellow Soroptimists, estimated that the sales took in a gross of approximately $4,200, compared to nearly $6,000 last year. A number of donated items were left over after this year’s sales, which were donated to the Marysville Goodwill in turn.

“We usually hold the Junktique in April, when we don’t have the competition of countywide garage sales going on,” Biegler said. “Sets of dishes, toys, books and furniture really flew out the door.”

A single buyer from Stanwood paid $150 for a bulk donation of orange coveralls from Dunlap Industrial Hardware.

“We also sold three beautiful Royal Doulton Figurines, for a very generous sum,” Biegler said. “Cookies and bars are always favorites at the bake sale table, but cupcakes, breads and brownies got grabbed up too.”

This marked the third year that the Junktique has been able to fill both barns at Jennings Park, but Biegler speculated that this year might also mark the end of the annual event.

“Marge Due and I are retiring our price stickers,” Biegler said. “Sadly, the customers weren’t waiting in line, as they’ve done in years past.”

Biegler credited at least half the members of the Marysville Chapter of Soroptimist International with turning out to staff this year’s sales, along with students from Mountain View High School and the Marysville School District’s Naval Junior ROTC.

“There’s such a work ethic to be seen in all of these students,” Biegler said. “The Junktique and our annual auction in October provide us with the means to delve into the real needs of real people in our community. When you know that you’ve made a difference in someone’s life through those donations, it makes all the work worthwhile.”

While the October auction is when the Marysville Chapter of Soroptimist International makes the majority of its funds for the year, Biegler reported that the group’s Bunco parties have been steadily gaining in popularity.

As for the funds generated by the Junktique, Biegler explained that the Marysville Chapter has a Community Service Committee that meets annually to discuss and research the donation requests that the group receives.

“We look at each request to determine whether or not it meets our mantra of ‘Best for Women,’” Biegler said. “Based on our budget for the year, we determine the scholarship amounts, and how many to give. Scholarships are always our number-one commitment.”

Biegler extended her thanks to the community as a whole, for supporting both the Junktique sales and the Marysville Soroptimists.

“From donating items, to turning out to shop, we couldn’t have done it without you folks,” Biegler said.