Each year in May, a giant flea market is presented by the Blazer Education Foundation at Daniel Boone Area High School, 501 Chestnut St., Birdsboro. To prepare for the event, which benefits students in the Daniel Boone Area School District, monthly donation drives are held throughout the year so that volunteers can gather items to be sold at the event.

The most recent donation drive was held on Jan 10. Items that were collected from the community included gently used household goods, clothing, toys and furniture.

Among the items donated that day were a brand-new pop-up tent, toys, a school desk and chair and bags of clothing. "Some kids came in and donated stuff," noted Hannah Ochis, who is leading the donation drive and flea market committee. "They said they were done with the toy and wanted another little child to have fun with it. You could tell that the parents told them this is a way to support their community."

This year's pay-what-you-will flea market will take place on Saturday, May 30, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the school's annex gym, located at Door No. 10. During the event, items will be placed in categories, such as books, toys, clothing and household goods. Specialty items offered for sale in May will include a large dollhouse, aquariums and children's furniture.

"For most of the items, unless it is something that is more valuable, (shoppers pay) what they want," explained Ochis. "It is a lot of work, and you need a lot of space to (display) things. A week before (the flea market), volunteers and different teachers start setting up in the old gym. Students also help with moving some of the stuff (from the storage area into the gym)."

According to Lisa Kieke, executive director of the Blazer Education Foundation, all proceeds benefit students in the Daniel Boone Area School District. "All of the money that we raise is used for innovative programming and things we can bring into the school for the students. We raise money that is above and beyond the school district budget," she said. "We have different projects that we fund. We can bring in a speaker from outside. It takes things to the next level."

For example, the foundation helped to purchase items such as a 3D printer, drones and equipment for the high school podcast room. It also presents yearly scholarships to graduating seniors.

"Teachers can apply for grants to fund extra projects for their classes," Ochis added. "(We have gotten robots for students to learn how to code. A science teacher, years ago, (requested funds) to do a coral reef project."

Kieke noted that the foundation started raising money by collecting clothing and then donating it to organizations that paid for it by the pound. "We started doing that early on, and Goodwill would come and pay for a gaylord (container) of stuff. We thought, 'Why don't we try a flea market and see how that goes?'" she said.

In addition to being sold at the flea market, some donated clothing is given to people in need, including Daniel Boone students. "We donate some of the items to Caring Closets at the high school and middle school, so if students need clothing, it is available to them," Kieke said. "We donate extra clothes to the school nurses (for students) who need a change of clothes. We work with some local churches; if there is a need in the community, we will help."

The next scheduled donation drive will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to noon. Donors are asked to bring their items to the back of the high school where the loading dock is located at Door No. 18. Items that can be donated include jewelry, books, CDs and DVDs, artwork, antiques, sporting goods and bicycles. A complete list of accepted items can be found at http://www.blazerfoundation.org/donation-drive.

For more information about the foundation and its activities, visit http://www.blazerfoundation.org or http://www.facebook.com/BlazerFoundation. Those with questions about the donation drives or the flea market may email lkieke@blazerfoundation.org.