DOWAGIAC — Though winter and a heavy chill is still lingering over Dowagiac, a local sorority is getting ready for a spring fling.

Zeta Chi will host its second annual spring fling garage sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Dowagiac Middle School, 5702 Riverside Dr., Dowagiac. Admission is free for the event, though it is $25 to rent an 8-foot by 10-foot space with a provided table. It is $20 for a space if a seller brings their own tables. Setup time for vendors will begin at 7 a.m. the day of the event.

The yard sale will allow community members to rent out a space to sell belongings they no longer need or for local vendors to sell their inventory, according to Zeta Chi President Vicki Foote.

“It’s a way to spring clean and make some extra money,” she said. “It’s really fun.”

Event organizers will also sell raffle tickets with prizes donated by local businesses.

More than just a fun event, Foote said the proceeds from the yard sale will be used by Zeta Chi to give back to Dowagiac.

“The money we raise goes back to help the people in our community,” Foote said. “We are focusing that money towards the needs of anybody.”

Foote said the money raised by the fundraiser could go anywhere in the community, be it a family who needs help during the holiday season, sponsoring the Miss Dowagiac afterglow party, donating Thanksgiving meals or just giving to community members as needs arise.

It is important to Zeta Chi to be involved and to give to the community, Foote said.

“I see so much need. A lot of our ladies work in the schools, so they see a lot [of need],” Foote said. “It’s important to give back and create a better community for our kids.”

Foote said she is hoping that this year’s spring fling yard sale is larger and more well attended than last year’s event, so that the sorority can raise more money to help those in need in the Dowagiac area.

“They say and event like this can take five years to grow, so we are hoping to eventually get our numbers really up there,” Foote said.

The yard sale to raise money for Zeta Chi will not be the only fundraiser taking place at the middle school on March 10. The event will also feature Scott’s Pig Roast Port-a-Pit chicken sales in order to raise money for Miss Michelle and Co. dance team.

“It’s a fundraiser within a fundraiser,” Foote said.

Foote requested that those looking to take part in the chicken fundraiser preorder tickets by March 2.

To pre-order Port-a-Chicken tickets or to reserve a selling space, call Vicki Foote at (269) 665-0861.