For the second year in a row, local agencies and organizations will benefit from the Dawson County Woman’s Club annual Garage Sale-Abration.

Now an annual event, last year the woman’s club collected more than $7,300 in support of local social service initiatives that benefit children.

Keeping with the tradition of supporting local youth, the woman’s club this year plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the garage sale to help fund a victim’s advocacy center in the county.

“Right now, when a child is sexually abused or hurt, we have to take them to Hall County for forensic interviews,” said Dawson County Sheriff Billy Carlisle. “We’ve wanted for several years to have an advocacy center here in the county for our Dawson County residents.”

The new victim’s advocacy center would be located on Maple Street in the former sheriff’s office building and would enable the sheriff’s office to conduct interviews in a setting less intrusive on the victim than the law enforcement center would be.

“Being at the jail can be pretty intimidating for a small child that has been hurt or abused,” Carlisle said.

The center would feature a living room type of area, designed to be child friendly to help make the children comfortable in their time of need, according to woman’s club member and garage sale organizer Betsy Connor. “They’ve been through enough already,” she said.

The center would also benefit women victimized by violent acts, Connor said.

Carlisle could not give an overall estimated cost to fund the center, but said video and audio equipment would be the bulk of the spending.

“We’re very appreciative of the woman’s club’s support for the center,” he said.

Proceeds from the garage sale will also benefit the Dawson County Senior Center, with the remainder supporting Dawson County Woman’s Club community projects.

The woman’s club is currently accepting household donations for the second annual Garage Sale-Abration to be held Saturday, Sept. 27. at the Rock Creek Sports Complex gymnasium.

Donations can be made Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Lakeview Center at 2059 Dawson Forest Road, East, Dawsonville.

“Last year, we had so many wonderful things donated,” said Connor. “The gym is going to be stocked full with as many tables as we can fit.”

For additional information, call (770) 519-6090.