SKANEATELES - From books to movies, bedding to sports equipment, there was a little bit of something for everyone at the fifth-annual St. James Episcopal Church Jumble Sale Saturday.

The sale began when event chairman and founder Dave Plogman moved to Skaneateles and became a member of St. James.

He said the idea behind the event was really twofold.

“It is a fundraiser for the church,” Plogman said. “But it is also a way to get our name out in the community and let the community know that we are here and that first and foremost we are here to help meet the needs of the community.”

From top to bottom the entire event has everything to do with community with all the sale items donated by church members.

The diversity and quality of items donated have helped to establish the sale as an event that serious shoppers don't want to miss.

“There were people lined up waiting to get in at seven this morning,” Plogman said. “And by the time we opened there were at least 75 people outside waiting. There was a real mad rush when we opened up this morning. It is a good feeling to see how interested people are in what we are doing.”

With the annual Curbstone Festival taking place at many of the shops along Genesee Street, hundreds of shoppers lined the streets of the village.

“We usually do this the same weekend as Curbstone,” Plogman said. “We draw from the people who are here for that and they draw from people that are here for this, it works out really well, I don't think we are competing for people's attention and it works out really well for both of us.”

Over the course of the one day sale, Plogman estimated that most years the sale draws at least 1,000 people.

And shoppers come from far and wide to stop and have a look.

“We were traveling through playing golf,” said Terry Wichowsky, of Lockport. “So we decided to stop and see what this was all about. I love it and we're planning our trip for next year and we'll definitely be making this a part of our plans for next year. We'll definitely be back.”

All the funds raised form the sale go right back into the community. Money goes to help support local programs like the Skaneateles Food Pantry and also have a further reaching impact with church outreach programs that in previous years have gone to help relocate refugees from places like Sudan and Bosnia to the Syracuse area.

“It started as a fundraiser,” said Charlie Crowther, a vestry member and sale volunteer. “But it has become something more. It isn't a money maker for the church; we re-divert everything we make back into the community. It is about meeting needs and we think that is exactly what we are doing with this and more than anything that may be the most important aspect of what we are doing here and to help keep the church growing outwardly.”

And nothing goes to waste.

After the sale, Plogman allows church members to come in and purchase anything left over for a small donation with anything remaining going to help local families in need as well as well as organizations like the Salvation Army and Volunteers of America in Auburn.

To see the sale evolve like it has over the past several years has been a very rewarding feeling.

“It is really nice to see,” Plogman said. “People have come to look forward to this and can't wait until next year and at the same time we are able to do something for the community. That is a very good feeling.”