Larry Anderson, 75-year-old Rainier Senior Center member, is aiming to give back to Rainier High School’s athletic department in a helpful manner. The Rainier resident will host an antique sale fundraiser later this month.
The fundraiser will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 24, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25 at the Rainier Senior Center, 108 Michigan St. S in Rainier. Anderson said he’ll donate 40% of the money raised at the antique sale fundraiser to RHS’s athletic department, and 20% of the money raised will benefit the Rainier Senior Center. He intends to sell antique items, artwork, furniture, comic books and much more.
“We’ll see how it goes to see if we can make the athletic department a little bit of money,” Anderson said. “I’m 75 years old and I figured, hey, I might as well do something to help other people out. I want to give something back. It’s my Christmas present to the community.”
The Rainier resident said he’s been collecting and obtaining items by attending different estate auctions over time. Anderson added anyone who wants to sell items at the antique sale can do that for free.
“I’m going to have fun doing it. I’m going to see if I can get some of the kids to help, too. One of them will take care of the money. I’ll just sell the stuff. If some of the high school kids come out and help, I’ll purchase them lunch,” Anderson said. “To me it’s not all about money in life. It’s about what you can do for other people in time.”
Anderson said he grew up in Puyallup while it was still considered a small town. Understanding what it’s like to grow up in a small town, Anderson hopes his contributions to RHS athletics will serve the high schoolers well.
“I graduated from high school in 1966 (in Puyallup), and I would do something to help down there, but they’re so big that they have plenty of stuff and don’t need my help,” Anderson said. “I wanted to do something for a small community, and I love it out there in Rainier. I wanted to keep it in the community.”
Anderson added that the items at the antique sale fundraiser won’t have set prices, but customers can “make a deal” with Anderson to find the right pricing of the antiques.
“You look at it and if you see something you like, let’s barter. I’ll have fun doing that,” Anderson said. “But the more money I can raise for the school and senior center, the happier I’ll be. I’m just trying to help people out.”
