The 51st annual Lord’s Acre sale was deemed a success by Lord’s Acre Committee members.
While money from the event continues to come in, committee member Larry Vernon estimated $4,000-$6,000 was raised.
“We had a small turnout of people on Saturday, but the churches that set up sold out early. We had people coming in after we’d already cleaned up and were getting ready to leave,” he said.
Vernon added there was “a steady trickle” of about 400-500 visitors to the event.
Funds will primarily be used to support the Penny House, which the group officially purchased last year. The Patrick Springs-area property has been used for over two decades to house more than 100 families who have primarily been burnt out of their homes.
“When they get burned out, they have a house to come stay in. They don’t have to pay anything. They can stay until they find housing, which we try to help them with also,” he said.
The committee will gather later in the year to count and bag the pennies before depositing them in an account at Truist Bank in Stuart.
The group also assists House residents in finding jobs, purchasing medicine for seniors, and buying gas cards with money raised from the annual sale.
Sue Hall, treasurer, said the six participating churches will donate 10 percent of the proceeds raised during the event to the Penny House. The remaining funds will be used for their individual mission projects to help the county.
Originally started to allow churches to come together in fellowship, the Lord’s Acre Sale has evolved into selling food, baked goods, crafts, and other items.
“People that didn’t have money to give could raise a crop to give or something,” Vernon said.
Ross Harbour United Methodist Church will continue to collect pennies for the Penny House on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. throughout October.
