For 20 years, the Brookwood Subdivision has been making a difference with its popular flea market.

This year, they stepped it up a notch.

Organizers of the Brookwood Make a Difference Flea Market announced Wednesday that last weekend's event raised $17,700 for five local charities.

The grand total represented a 26 percent increase over last year's earnings.

“In these challenging economic times, it is very gratifying to increase the amount we are donating to charity," said Joanne Marcil, who first created the event two decades ago with a small garage sale. 

Over the years, it has grown to a community event that last year received national recognition (and a $10,000 gift) from the USA Weekend Make a Difference project.

"We are deeply touched by the overwhelming generosity of the Brookwood community, our volunteers, our friends, family, our local business supporters, sponsors and the people from the surrounding area who come out to shop at the flea market.”

The flea market supports the Baldwin Center in Pontiac, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International; Paint a Miracle in downtown Rochester; and The Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester.

Organizers asked to shout out a "thank you" to several student organizations that helped with this year's event. Among them:

• Boy Scout Troop 101
• Rochester High School National Honor Society
• Rochester High School Key Club
• Adams High School Key Club
• Adams National Honor Society
• Adams High School Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team
• Stoney Creek High School National Honor Society
• Stoney Creek High School Key Club