Willowdale Yard Sale Day 2025: Community, Connection, and Caring for Our Neighbourhood
- Ruby Dalvina
- Sep 16
- 3 min read
Guest written by an incredible volunteer and NeighbourLink Champion Ruby Dalvina!
Check out her website full HERE includes many insightful reads—from mental health, business marketing, and health, to personal finance and more.
Every so often, a community event comes around that isn't just about what is being sold or bought, but about what's being built: connections, kindness and care. Willowdale Yard Sale Day, hosted by NeighbourLink North York, is one of those rare events where shopping secondhand becomes a doorway to something much greater - community engagement and environmental responsibility.
On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Willowdale will come alive with over 50 yard sales happening simultaneously across the neighbourhood:
20+ indoor sales at Lansing United Church (49 Bogert Ave) from 9 am–1 pm
20+ indoor sales at Spring Garden Church (112 Spring Garden Ave) from 9 am–1 pm
15+ sales at homes across Willowdale
To make things even easier, NeighbourLink has created the Willowdale Yard Sale Map, which last year received an astonishing 90,000+ views. This simple yet powerful tool allows residents to find sales, plan their routes, and maximize their experience while ensuring vendors can reach more neighbours.
Why It Matters
Events like these go far beyond tables lined with treasures. They are rooted in something deeper:
Community Connection -Last year’s participants described the day as having a “great culture of friendliness.” Neighbours who might never have crossed paths shared stories, laughter, and conversations. Yard sales break down barriers and give people the chance to meet one another in an approachable, everyday way.
Environmental Impact – Every item bought secondhand is one less item destined for a landfill. By reducing waste and avoiding the heavy carbon footprint of global manufacturing and shipping, Willowdale Yard Sale Day supports a healthier planet while encouraging thoughtful consumption.
Supporting Local Needs – All funds raised through registration go directly to NeighbourLink North York’s programs that support children, families, and seniors through two food banks and mobile food programs. It’s shopping with purpose — each transaction contributes to a stronger, more caring neighbourhood.
Practical & Relational Engagement – Since 1994, NeighbourLink North York has been committed to helping neighbours know and care for each other. Yard Sale Day is a living example of that mission in action: sustainable, relational, and full of potential.
Beyond Buying and Selling
Walking through Willowdale on Yard Sale Day, you’ll notice something remarkable: people linger. They don’t just shop and leave — they connect. A casual hello may turn into a shared story about raising kids in the neighbourhood, or a friendly exchange about gardening tips. It’s in these small moments that the bigger picture of community is drawn.
As someone who has witnessed the power of NeighbourLink’s events, I can say with certainty that this is more than a yard sale. It’s a reminder that a neighbourhood flourishes when people choose to engage with one another meaningfully.
A Fresh Perspective
“Community is built not by grand gestures, but by ordinary moments of care multiplied across many lives.” – Ruby Dalvina
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