Though the hospital may be a healing center for the sick, it was a marketplace filled with jewelry, trinkets, scarves and wallets, for Vaughan Regional Medical Center’s Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale Thursday.

Sponsored by Vaughan’s Hospital auxiliary to help raise money for the group’s projects and scholarships, the sale showcased watches, bracelets, rings, pendants and more inside the medical towers’ first-floor classroom.

In her second year as event chair, volunteer Rosie Dunklin said the sale, which started Thursday and will end Friday, was a success during the early morning hours.

“We’ve been crowded all day since 7 a.m.,” Dunklin said. “From what it looks like today, it looks like it’s more successful (than last year’s).”

The auxiliary puts on the sale twice a year — in April and November. Dunklin said during April’s two-day event, the team made a little more than $26,000.

“It was super,” Dunklin said. “We want to top that this time; if we do better than April (then), we’re good.”

Billie Rogers, former auxiliary president, said foot traffic had been nonstop. Rogers believes it’s because of the low price.

“It’s such a bargain for people — it’s quality jewelry, it’s very good,” Rogers said. “We have such a good variety. We have more people buying for Christmas gifts.”

Rogers said the auxiliary usually makes a $6,000 profit from jewelry sales and receives 20 percent of revenue. The 20 percent, Rogers said, goes towards projects and scholarships.

Masquerade jewelry director Carlos Horne organizes jewelry sales with hospitals across the country. He’s been working with VRMC auxiliary for eight years, and said the sale is Vaughan’s biggest project.

“It draws in a lot of outside traffic,” Horne said. “There was about 20-30 here at 7 (a.m.) — it was a good crowd.”

Selma resident Charity Smith, who came to Thursday’s sale with her colleagues, is a regular customer.

“We all work together and we’ve been coming four or five years now,” Smith said. “It’s $5 and pretty. It’s less costly and great for Christmas gifts.”

The jewelry sale will continue today from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Vaughan medical towers.

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