What happens when you combine an inspired fundraising leader with a community of supporters who have an incredible amount of high-value items to donate? You have a series of upscale yard sale events that have taken the North Fork by surprise.

The new fundraiser event, Betty’s Boutique, which kicked off in June of 2023 has proven to be a tremendous success and has grown since its inception only a few months ago.

Marja Ames, who operates Ames Feline Adoption & Rescue (AFAR) with her husband, David, has been running yard sale fundraisers to raise funds for the feed and care of the feral cats rescued by her organization.

Marja and David are long-time avid supporters of the North Fork Animal Welfare League (NFAWL). When they realized how well a fundraising event like this could do, they approached the director of NFAWL about hosting an event. The rest is history. The idea took off and the North Fork (and the Hamptons) community responded.

The name, in memory of Marja’s and David’s amazing and discerning cat, Betty, represents the boutique style of this yard sale experience. It feels as if you’ve walked into a village shop when you enter the building housing the high-quality, treasures of this unique sale.

“We finally had the space to do this,” said Marja, “And I had enough practice to make this a success and raise a significant amount of money for The League.”

Marja also explained that working with her mother, Hilkka, and the amazing team of volunteers on the intricate details of the sale items has been a tremendous help. It takes a great deal of time to prepare everything, from sorting to pricing and preparing the displays.

“We received an extraordinary response after putting out calls for donations.” She explained, “These donations are the community story!”

All of the shoppers were impressed with the quality of the items (brand names and all), which included clothing, shoes, jewelry, home decor, furniture, books, and much more. Customers also appreciated the organized nature of the sale. The sales exceeded all expectations. Betty’s Boutique events from June and August have raised over $22,000 dollars for the North Fork Animal Welfare League so far.

The next set of events in Betty’s Boutique Yard Sale Series are the Fall Festivals on Saturday, October 21, and Saturday, October 28, both from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Ames Feline Adoption & Rescue (AFAR), 15900 Main Road, Mattituck, NY, 11952. Visit the Event Calendar for more details.

A Holiday Boutique is also planned for Black Friday, November 24, 2023. More to follow.

The best part of this hugely successful event story, which ties in the community support, is the way that it greatly affects the animals at the North Fork Animal Welfare League. These much-needed funds help to bring in more animals on life-saving transports, give all of the animals the best care possible and get them ready for adoption, and continue to support the community of pet owners on the North Fork.

See you at Betty’s Boutique!