Dayton, Ohio: Residents at Eastway’s group home are excited to host the yard sale and meet the neighbors. Successful yard sales have lots of great items (priced to sell), signs to help thrifty shoppers find the deals, and cups of refreshing lemonade on hand. The residents at Eastway’s “The Heights” will provide all this and more to neighbors at their first yard sale September 17-18. “The Heights” is a home for twelve residents who have been dually diagnosed as mentally retarded and mentally ill (MRMI) and require around-the-clock care. The yard sale is an opportunity for the residents to work with the staff in the planning and execution of a large goal; each resident will have a specific task - such as creating signs, pricing items, setting-up tables, and serving lemonade – so that the sale runs smoothly. Proceeds from the sale will be put toward the residents’ Christmas party. Manager Sue Starnes hopes the yard sale helps residents become more fully integrated in the neighborhood. Experienced with clients with MRMI, she understands the negative stigma that accompanies the labels. Starnes’s goal is larger than just supporting the Christmas party. She says,

“we want to be part of the community; we want to show that we’re just good people.” Starnes explains, “It’s fun up here; (the clients have) really stolen my heart and I want our neighbors to see them for the wonderful, kind people they are.” One resident, Dan, is excited to run the lemonade stand. He also plans to sell many of his old rock and roll music tapes. He knows the sale will be “a lot of work,” but he’s excited for the sale and hoping for a big crowd. STOP BY THE YARD SALE: The Heights is located at 601 Xenia Ave in the Twin Towers Neighborhood. The yard sale will take place on the front yard from 9AM-5PM on both Thursday, September 17 and Friday, September 18. To learn more, call Megan at 937-496-2000 ext. 2055. If you missed the sale this year, be sure to stop by next year - A huge thank you to all that came out to support our cause, see you next year.

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