FARMINGTON — The United Way of the Tri-Valley Area is looking for donations of unused household items for their indoor yard sale planned as part of Farmington’s Summer Fest on July 30.

Although the UWTVA won’t launch its annual 2010-11 fundraising campaign until September, a few pre-campaign activities help raise funds for it, said Stacie Bourassa of UWTVA.

During the United Way’s 16th annual golf classic held June 24 at Belgrade Lakes, 19 foursomes along with contributions raised nearly $10,000 for this year’s annual campaign.

In addition to the planned yard sale, a quilt donated by master quilter and UWTVA Board Chair Peggy Willihan of Carrabassett Valley will be raffled with all proceeds benefiting the United Way and the programs it supports.

The quilt is currently on display at the UWTVA office and quite a few tickets have already been sold, Bourassa said. The crib or wall hanging sized quilt features summer colors and a strawberry quilting motif. Tickets are six for $5 or $1 each and can be purchased at the United Way office or by calling 778-5048.

Requested donations for the yard sale include household items, toys, books, furniture but no electronics such as computers and printers, she said.

The yard sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the office at 232 Broadway.

“We thought we’d try something different. We’ve done well here with bake sales because we get so much traffic,” she said.

Items donated but not sold during the sale will be held for the UWTVA’s work with local homeless families who may be starting out and need to outfit an apartment, she said.

“A lot of people don’t want to throw away things they don’t need. It makes people feel good when they know it’s going to someone else and it is getting a new life,” she said.

Literacy programs, mentoring programs, domestic violence and sexual assault preventive efforts and mental and dental health access, among other services, are all affected by the generosity of community members, she said.

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