Every year in February, the question is asked: Do you love India?

Many Brookhaven and Lincoln County residents do, and flock to Brookhaven First Baptist Church’s “I Love India Garage Sale.” Begun in 2012, the sale has taken place annually since (with the exception of 2020), and will be Feb. 28 and March 1 this year. 

All funds raised from the sales go to support Agape Outreach Mission India, run by Sam Varghese and his wife Jezy, local missionaries and natives of India.

Varghese is director of more than 50 bi-vocational pastors and their families, and churches in India through AOM. Proceeds from the sales help pastors pay medical expenses, housing costs, and meet other financial needs, as well as the construction of a children’s home.

The sale is of donated items — tools, sporting goods, toys, housewares, furniture, appliances, electronics, and clothes — and typically raises thousands and thousands of dollars for the ministry.

The sale will be in the First Baptist gym on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1. For a $20 entry fee, early shoppers can have two hours of exclusive access to deals, 2-4 p.m. Friday. At 4 p.m., the entry fee drops to $10 per shopper. At 6 p.m., it drops again to $5. 

The sale will close Friday night at 8 p.m. On Saturday, the gym will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., with no entry fee.

No items can be held or delivered, so large-item bargain shoppers should come prepared to take furniture, appliances and such with them. Everything has to be picked up by Saturday at 11 a.m.