By Britton Buttrill
UPDATE: The event raised $7,750, which will be donated to Hope For Haiti Now.
Pace Academy freshmen Max Barab and Sam Schaffer are making a difference for Haiti one odd and one end at a time. They are holding a charity yard sale this weekend – Feb. 27 – 28 – to benefit the Haitian earthquake victims. There will be furniture, electronics, children’s toys, chinaware and sporting goods, in addition to two life-size cows from the Atlanta Cow Parade.
All of the funds from the yard sale will go to various organizations which are working to assist the Haitian people, including The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, United Nations World Food Program, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, Red Cross, UNICEF and the Yele Haiti Foundation. This is not the first time Max has sold second-hand wares for charity. He has raised more than $21,000 for various charities and organizations, including $5,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Some of the projects Max has been involved with include helping to renovate a couples night shelter, assisting a family shelter renovate its computer lab and a dog rescue organization. This time around, it was a benefit concert which inspired him. “I watched the Hope for Haiti concert, and they showed stories about people in Haiti, and they have stories about kids and other people, and it moved me. So I talked to my friend Sam and we decided to do the yard sale, and now we’re doing it for the same organization which is Hope for Haiti Now,” Max said
They are hoping to have a big turnout for this weekend’s yard sale, and top their previous fundraising records. Max said that the goal is “to raise as much money as possible to send to these organizations and to help Haiti in all aspects of the disaster.” Max and Sam also hope to raise awareness about the Haiti disaster, and inspire more people to assist in relief efforts.
“We’re just trying to get people involved in every way,” said Max, “even if it’s donating, spreading the word, or having people volunteer.” The yard sale will be held at Max’s home at 2830 Wyngate Dr. NW, Atlanta 30305 on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.