Garage Sale Takes Donations To Help Orphans
ST. MICHAEL, Minn. (WCCO) -- You may have noticed that signs and cars are lining the streets in your neighborhood already, because it's officially garage sale season. In St. Michael, however, there's one sale that's not about the purchase, but the purpose.
Kimberly Del Percio started the Josiah's Hope Garage Sale after her son Josiah died.
"He had been adopted from South Korea and he passed away just before his fifth birthday of heart disease," she said.
Josiah had complications after his fourth open heart surgery. In their grief, the Del Percios often thought about what Josiah told them – that he wanted all orphans to find homes.
"We didn't want that to be the end of the story, so we thought: 'What can we do?' And it started with a simple garage sale," Del Percio said..
The family gathers donated items from other garage sales, and doesn't put a price tag on anything. They only accept donations.
The old items have brought their family new life. The first sale helped them raise money for another priceless find – their two year old son Benjamin, who is also adopted from South Korea.
"He is just a loving kid, loves his sisters and his family," Tony Del Percio said. The couple also has two teenage daughters.
All garage sale proceeds are donated to organizations that help orphans, and the family says people have given more than they ever imagined.
"Because they know your cause and have heard your story, they'll give more than what they'll spend at a normal garage sale, so we are very thankful," Kimberly Del Percio said.
The last garage sale they held raised $2,800 for orphans, and this year they hope to raise more.
Tony Del Percio said he just wants to give back what Josiah gave to his family: love and appreciation for life.
"He was like sunshine to us," Kimberly Del Percio said.
The family is still looking for more donations of garage sale items.
The garage sale can be found at the address below:
Josiah's Hope Garage Sale
4619 LaSalle Court NE, St Michael
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. May 21, May 27 and May 28
Josiah's Hope Walkathon for Orphans
11 a.m. June 4
For more information on Josiah's Hope Orphan Care Ministry, visit the Facebook page.
