The Austin High School bus parking lot will be filled with second-hand goods next week for the Key Club's first ever bus-lot sale.

Members of the club are working to help fund their program for the next school year with proceeds from the sale, which will take place on Saturday, July 19.

What is sold will depend on what the community offers to the students. They will be receiving donated items from residents the night before the sale.

"If you can put a 50 cent tag on it, we're looking for it," club president Betsy Langowski said.

While the price of an item is not a factor for the students, they do not want junk, so they will be checking to make sure everything is of some value. From 5 to 9 p.m. July 18 they are asking residents to take any items they are willing to offer to the high school gym.

Langowski said this is one way the Key Club can offset some of the costs of their many activities throughout the year.

"It's something different," she said. "We were thinking of any way to strike out on our own, and this is what we came up with."

The idea for the sale came from district governor Lindsey Bowman, who is famous for her creative projects.

"She does these crazy ideas she calls her 'Bowman ideas,'" Langowski said.

Last year, the club organized a face-painting booth over the Fourth of July weekend. They took in money from residents, but received help from Hormel as well.

"They just donated a phenomenal amount of money for us," she said.

The money will be used for activities such as supplies for charity projects and expenses for conferences throughout the year.

A project the group did last year was smile bags, bags full of toothbrushes, toys, soap and a mirror for children that underwent oral surgery.

This year, the group will be involved with a number of activities, including clean-up work on the bike trails around Mill Pond.

The sale will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 19 or until people stop coming, Langowski said.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com