Alano Club hosts one final garage sale this year to help paint the building – Detroit Lakes Tribune

DETROIT LAKES — “Happiness comes when results exceed expectations.” – Anonymous alcoholics

And this doesn’t just apply to 12-step programs – the Detroit Lakes Alano Club also had many satisfied members after the flea market in May went better than expected.

Thanks to donations of money and goods as well as proceeds from the flea market, the clubhouse at 827 Summit Avenue is now the proud owner of a newly shingled roof and new gutters.

Nathan Bowe/Tribune

In a newsletter, club members expressed their “great thanks to everyone who helped make our fundraiser a success. A big thank you to everyone who…donated items for sale and to everyone who made purchases. Another big thank you to everyone who donated money.”

But the Alano Club will only be in a good state of repair once it has a new coat of paint on the outside. For this reason, the club members are organising one last flea market this year, which will take place this weekend, July 13th and 14th.

Donations of items in good condition will be accepted at the clubhouse on Thursday and Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and the flea market is open on Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Donations of money or saleable items are welcome, said Steve Hanson, chairman of the Detroit Lakes Alano Board.

The nonprofit Alano Club provides meeting space, support, and contact information for 12-step self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Adult Children of Alcoholics.

Contributed photo

There has been an Alano Club in Detroit Lakes since 1982, when it was located in the so-called “red house” at 826 Lake Ave., on the corner of Holmes Street and Lake Avenue. This location is now part of the parking lot of the Washington Square Mall.

The clubhouse purchased its current home – a former Evangelical Free Church congregation at the corner of Summit Avenue and Holmes Street – and moved there in 1987, according to a history book compiled by Alano Club members.

Anyone who wants to support the Alano Club’s improvement project or simply believes in the value of 12-step programs and wants to help can drop off money or a check at the garage sale, Hanson said. “We’re happy to accept monetary donations,” he said. “Anything that will get us closer to our goal.”

Bowe covers the Becker County Board and the court system for the Tribune and oversees the opinion pages for the Tribune and Focus. As news editor for both newspapers, he is the go-to guy for readers and the general public: breaking news or critical news tips, article ideas, questions and general feedback should be directed to him.