St. Peter Church marks final year of barn sale

Volunteering to host an event can be a big commitment, especially when it involves an entire decade. That's what hosting the ever-popular Barn Sale in Geneva means for the Catholic parish that takes it on.

This year marks the end of a second "turn" taken by St. Peter Catholic Church, and the 40th year overall. The sale will take place Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18 at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles.

"It's more of a giant flea market," explained 25-year parishioner Lisa O'Leary-Volk of Geneva, one of the co-chairs of the event. "It takes up all of the physical buildings at the fairgrounds."

The enormous event will feature everything from seasonal decor and clothing to furniture, bicycles and other items that are rare, retro, or one-of-a-kind.

Clothing can be purchased for as little as $1 per item and furniture such as desks for as little as $10.

"I think everybody should come out for the great prices we have," said Miguel Mayorga, a 19-year parishioner and co-chairman of the event.

The sale got its name from the original event held in a barn which raised funds to build St. Neumann Catholic Church. This year's event will benefit ongoing maintenance and improvements at St. Peter Church. Each year, the sale brings in between $80,000 to $100,000.

"The whole community donates items," O'Leary-Volk said, adding that about 400 volunteers put in hours to help with the sale beginning with collections as early as March. Items are stored in semitrailers until the event draws near.

"We get items from Sugar Grove to West Chicago to Elgin to Maple Park. Things come from a very large Fox Valley extended area."

Rare finds over the years have included a 1,000-gallon fish tank with two-inch glass that fetched a tidy sum of $1,200. O'Leary-Volk recalled beautifully embroidered Japanese kimonos that were donated one year. Other notable donations have included an antique push pedal organ and various cars.

The event benefits the church with much needed funds but also provides low-income families with goods at deeply discounted prices. One year, Mayorga said, a man whose four kids never owned bicycles came to the sale.

"They all went home with bikes," Mayorga said. "Those kids were happier than I've ever seen in my life."

Cherie Braun of St. Charles has been volunteering at the sale and shopping there since 2007 to purchase items for needy members of the community. She recalled when she worked as a substitute teacher and had a homeless student in her class.

"I took it upon myself to dress her, put shoes on her," Braun said. "The sale makes extraordinary goals very attainable and affordable."

Also at the sale, shoppers will find a Country Market with treats baked by parishioners. For breakfast, enjoy coffee and doughnuts or fresh fruit. For lunch, pizza, hot dogs, egg rolls and Jersey Mike's sandwiches will be available. Knights of Columbus will sell fresh roasted ears of corn for $2. Prices for food range from $1 to $5.

While the enormity of the event has fluctuated over the years, this year's event will feature 16 semitrailer truckloads of goods.

"You really do have to see it to believe it," said O'Leary-Volk. "The scope of it is hard to describe."

She often tells people that if they can't find what they're looking for at the sale, then they don't need it.

One sad fact, offers O'Leary-Volk, is that it looks like this may be the last year for the Barn Sale. So far, she said, no other parish has stepped up to host the event in 2017.

"None of the local parishes feel like they can take it on," she said. "It's quite an undertaking."

Hours for the sale are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Parking and admission are free. More at www.stpeterchurch.com/59.

If you go

What: The 10th St. Peter Barn Sale

When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17-18

Where: Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles

Featuring: A food court selling breakfast, baked goods, lunch and snacks

Admission and parking: Free

Details: <a href="http://stpeterchurch.com/59">stpeterchurch.com/59</a>