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| Spending change to bring change Rare chance to buy used items begins final week of CARE events
There's a boutique open for a few hours a couple of days each week. And the dumpsters. But for the most part secondhand bargain hunting in Longyearbyen is out of season. Buying new children's clothes is pricy, especially since they may fit for only a couple of months. Acquiring large items such as carpets and furniture can mean huge shipping charges from the mainland, and woe to those who don't like the color. Which is why those were among the first items out the door of the annual flea market at The University Centre In Svalbard on Saturday and Sunday. The dining hall was filled with tables of clothes, toys, books, appliances, TVs and other items donated by residents – including a three-tray commercial copy machine – with proceeds going to the international CARE campaign to benefit impoverished women. Also in keeping with the tradition of flea markets everywhere was the availability of quick street food, although instead of hot dogs and burgers it was a fairly authentic resemblance of the roadside stalls in Bangkok. "I think toys were the first thing we sold," said Pernilla Carlsson, a UNIS PhD student volunteering as a cashier for the sale. Also "quite a bit of Thai food. I think that was the first thing, actually." The most popular item, Carlsson said, was children's clothes. Hundreds of residents swarmed the hall for the best pickings shortly after the sale began at noon Saturday, a scene familiar to any veteran bargain hunter. Also familiar were the few stragglers hunting through the remnants during the closing minutes Sunday for any missed treasures selling at name-you-own prices. By the end there were still plenty of clothes, books and other things – including what looked like all of the large non-flatscreen TVs – needing to find a new home. "That is the question we are asking ourselves," said Daniel Vogedes, another PhD student at UNIS helping box leftover items as the sale ended. He said some items are donated to the local secondhand boutique and others to organizations in countries such as Finland and Russia.
The sale was part of a month-long series of events raising funds for the CARE campaign, which culminates in a 24-hour telethon Oct. 18 on NRK. Numerous local events are scheduled during the final week, including: • A spaghetti dinner hosted by the Longyearbyen Bolognese Association (really) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ungdomsklubben (youth club). Food will be served until 8 p.m. or it is sold out, with donations for any amount accepted. • A dinner of reindeer stew, followed by music and other performances by students, at Longyearbyen School starting at 4 p.m. Thursday. Dinner will be served until 5 p.m., followed by performances in all classrooms, with winners announced at 7:30 p.m. • An open house with coffee in the governor's fireplace lounge on the second floor of the old museum from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. • A baptism liturgy with an offering to benefit CARE at 11 a.m. Sunday at Svalbard Church. • An auction from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Brasseri Nansen. More information about local CARE events is available by contacting Anne Lise Klungseth Sandvik at an-lissa@online.no. Information about the CARE organization can be found at www.care.no and www.care.org. |
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