Hinsdale, IL -

Hickory Street flooded with cars April 11 as community members from near and far came to browse through items at the Global Hope garage sale.

On the web For more information, visit www.globalhopenow.org

Norine Guy, whose daughter Aja is a third-grader at The Lane School in Hinsdale, came up with the idea for a garage sale after helping run a pencil sale fundraiser with Kids Care Club last month. That event raised $1,000 for Global Hope, making her realize how much could be raised for the local charity if everyone pitched in with donated items. Guy approached her friend, Jessica Lederhausen, about the idea, and she willingly opened up her home.

“I just wanted to help out,” Lederhausen said. “I think it’s for a really good cause.”

Global Hope was founded by Downers Grove residents committed to improving the lives of the undeserved throughout the world. From April 10 to 18, a group of Global Hope volunteers traveled to New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward on their third service trip to help those displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In just 10 days, Guy threw together the garage sale, placing ads online and collecting items from The Lane families in the rain. Luckily, the sun came out in time for the big day, attracting visitors from throughout the western suburbs.

“My hope for today was that this (garage sale) would help to serve the Global Hope team while they’re in New Orleans for all the extra needs that should arise while they’re there,” Guy said. “I think it turned out great. It was a wonderful day, and there was a continuous flow of people.”

With 100 percent of the proceeds going to Global Hope, the garage sale raised almost $4,000, and Guy’s wheels are already turning toward the next fundraiser.

From leather couches to crystal, families from The Lane donated a variety of items for the event. Greg Huber, who has a third-grader at The Lane, donated a large television and area rug for the sale.

“We’re very blessed in our community,” Huber said. “Anything we can do to help others is something that’s important to us, and I think especially going through the school, the idea of understanding your blessings and helping those beyond your own backyard is a value that hopefully the kids can see and learn from.”