The annual Our Lady of Malibu Yard Sale is off to another successful start. The local tradition began last week with a range of items for sale, including designer clothing, household boutiques, antiques, furniture, books, jewelry, toys, linens and plants. New items are arriving each day.
The OLM yard sale was founded by Carol Dillon in the 1960s. The mother of 12 got the idea to have a church “rummage sale” when she saw how much money her daughter’s dance company made with one. Dillon began advertising in the church bulletin for donations, and received help from her early recruits, Jane Baldau, Carolyn Craft, Eleanor Mills and Claire Lynch.
Kathy Madden, Dillon’s daughter, wrote in an e-mail, “The yearly ‘rummage sale’ grew and the word was out to call Carol Dillon at Our Lady of Malibu Church for a pick-up of anything from refrigerators to mattresses … She would get somebody with a truck (she had a list of names and numbers) to help her haul the stuff. And if no one else was available, the family car and a few teenagers did the job.”
The tradition has continued to grow. Through the years, the yard sale has raised an estimated $1 million to benefit OLM’s church and school.
The current sale will continue everyday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the final day, all products will be half-priced.