A full-time carer has credited a community-driven garage safari which has seen hundreds of households sign up as giving him a “reason to talk again” and “keep busy”.
Mark Chopping, from Bredhurst Road, Wigmore, near Rainham, has spent the past year caring around the clock for his father, who has dementia.
He’s also been coping with the death of his mum and a divorce.
Unable to leave the house for long periods, but with a home full of belongings to sort through and clear out, he couldn’t consider going to a traditional bootfair.
“I can’t leave my dad all day,” explains Mark. “So I thought about doing a yard sale, but because we’re not on a main road, I didn’t think many people would turn up.”
He then remembered how, during the Covid lockdowns, people had sold items from their gardens or driveways, something that had made selling more flexible and approachable.
After posting a message on Facebook to see if anyone else might be interested in signing up to a safari garage event, he was surprised by how many replies he received.
A garage safari is an event where several households in a neighbourhood or area simultaneously host garage sales, allowing people to browse and shop at various locations.
“I set up a chat group, and it quickly grew”, he explained.
“We started with about 20 homes, and now more than 140 are taking part.”
The Rainham Bootfair Safari is taking place next Sunday, July 20, from 10am to 3pm, with residents across Lower Rainham, Wigmore and Parkwood selling from their driveways.
While safari-style yard sales have been held in parts of the UK before, often in villages with a few dozen homes involved, Mark’s event, with 145 addresses, is one of the largest of its kind.
Similar events are already well established in other countries, including long-distance trail sales in the United States and neighbourhood garage sale routes in Australia.
Each participating home has been added to a Rainham Safari – Google My Maps, so visitors can plan their route and walk from sale to sale.
A Facebook page, @RainhamSafari, is sharing updates and printable flyers.
It’s a real “team effort” adds Mark. “One person created the flyers, another runs the page.
“We’ve all done this in our own time. It’s not only about making money.
“It’s just a way for people to get involved in something together.”
He added: “I’ve been home a lot because of my caring responsibilities, but this has given me a reason to talk to people again and keep busy.”
Local shops may also see more footfall, with visitors walking between areas and stopping along the way.
Anyone interested in joining the event or planning their visit can find more information on the @RainhamSafari Facebook page.
