These volunteers took a short break before the White Elephant Sale began yesterday. It opens today at 8 a.m. Photos by R. Davis.

OLD LYME — The second and final day of the White Elephant Sale (WES) opens this morning at 8 a.m. and runs through 12 p.m.  Most items will be half-price and there will be bargains galore!

The WES is hosted by the Ladies Benevolent Society of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

The sale items are organized into some 20 departments that fill the church buildings as well as every available space on the lawn.  The WES has grown so large that it has become a true “community event” since many of the donations are from non-church members and quite a number of volunteers are also from outside the church.

There were large crowds waiting for the sale to begin yesterday. It will likely be the same today.

The sale raises a significant amount of money for missions and good works both locally and throughout the world.  Some of the beneficiaries include food pantries, health organizations, family support centers, children’s programs, literacy volunteers, affordable housing, and disaster relief worldwide.

For more information about the sale or if you would like to volunteer to help in any capacity, whether with the sale itself or clean-up, see a volunteer at the WES today.