Yard Sale to Help Winchester Family Touched by Transplant

Emily Progin, Content Manager

eprogin@helphopelive.org / 800.642.8399

SEPT 23 YARD SALE TO HELP WINCHESTER FAMILY TOUCHED BY TRANSPLANT

Benefits Nonprofit Helping Carlton Acklin Cover Medical Costs

WINCHESTER, Va.—This Saturday, September 23, the Winchester community will come together for an annual yard sale benefiting a worthy case: a fundraising campaign in honor of 50-year-old Winchester resident Carlton Acklin. Funds raised will be used by the nonprofit Help Hope Live to cover critical medical costs related to a life-changing kidney transplant.

Yard Sale Details

When: Saturday, September 23 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rain Date: September 30 or October 7

Where: Carlton’s residence at 555 Smithfield Avenue, Winchester, VA 22601

What: Yard sales to benefit Help Hope Live in honor of Carlton Acklin. Wide selection of items for sale will include Christmas decorations, candle holders, linens, antique bottles, books, CDs, DVDs, cassette tapes, clothing, glasses, and flatware.

Contact: Mrs. Vinnie Acklin (mother) at 540-722-8928 or xela@rcn.com

Flyer: Click Here

Can’t Make It? Donate: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/12686/

Carlton’s Story and Why He Fundraises:

50-year-old Carlton Acklin received a life-changing kidney transplant not once but twice in 2013 and 2019. Prior to his 2019 transplant, Carlton had to pursue three weekly dialysis sessions at four hours per session just to keep his body functioning.

Today, Carlton is grateful every day for his gift of life and his community’s support. He has lived on Smithfield Avenue in Winchester for the past 19 years and works at Martin’s Foods. Carlton loves giving back, helping to organize and sponsor annual events like Easter egg hunts for neighborhood kids.

Since 2017, fundraising with the nonprofit Help Hope Live has been a critical lifeline to help him sustain the out-of-pocket costs associated with caring for the gift of life. During his transplant in 2019, Carlton had an out-of-pocket bill of $1,418. In 2020, six months after his transplant, he had to cover another $900. In December 2022 and in August 2023, Carlton had to cover critical dental work that could threaten the health of his new kidney—those out-of-pocket totals exceeded $2,000.

“All of these costs were covered thanks to my fundraising campaign,” he explained.

Funds raised from the yard sale will be donated to Help Hope Live in Carlton’s honor. Tax-deductible donations can also be made anytime online at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/12686/

Unlike a GoFundMe campaign, donations to Help Hope Live are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and all funds raised will be managed by the nonprofit to cover verified medical and related expenses. Help Hope Live verifies medical and financial need for every patient.

Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live have raised over $172 million to pay patient expenses. ###