advertisement

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Batavia is preparing for its annual Giant Indoor Garage Sale

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Batavia is preparing for its annual Giant Indoor Garage Sale. This year's sale will be held on Thursday, July 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 and 8 p.m.; Friday, July 20, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, July 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Saturday, all items are half-price, with a $5 Bag Sale from noon to 1 p.m.

The sale was the brainchild of Jeanette Moll, the late wife of Pastor Emeritus Donald Moll. Cindy Rueffer, another Immanuel member with a true heart for outreach ministry to our community, worked on the sale with Jeanette and eventually took over the roles of coordinator, organizer, sorter, arranger, etc., etc., etc. It is a huge job and Cindy typically donates more than six weeks each year to make this huge sale happen, not including the year of planning and tweaking that precedes it.

The sale has become a tradition in the Fox Valley - and beyond. Each year the church welcomes folks who have traveled many miles to visit the sale; some even plan their annual vacations to allow them to attend.

Many local families depend on the sale to help clothe their children for the coming school year ... some share their thanks with Cindy and the rest of the garage sale crew with tears in their eyes. Often the sale benefits high school graduates needing to furnish a dorm room or first-year teachers and other college graduates just starting out and needing to outfit a classroom or apartment.

After the sale, remaining items are donated to a variety of local charities including: the Epilepsy Foundation, Wayside Cross Mission in Aurora, Batavia Clothes Closet and CHIP IN Batavia, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Ellen's Excellent sale to benefit Lazarus House, Robin's Hope, ReStore for Habitat for Humanity, and ReHome - to name just a few.

In Cindy's own words, "As the doors open, we watch and smile, and wonder what their stories are. Some stop to talk and ask questions, some are very focused, and some are overwhelmed; but each person has his or her own story to tell. For most people, the sale is a fun event for the day - grabbing bargains and leaving with a smile. For others, the sale brings tears of joy!"

And those stories, the ones about people meeting needs that might otherwise have gone unmet, are why Cindy does what she does every year for this sale.

The sale includes antiques, costume jewelry, toys, clothes, tools, linens, accessories, books, music, decorating items, housewares, holiday items, electronics, sporting equipment, and furniture. There are usually at least a couple of unusual items: one year a dentist chair, another a weather vane.

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School is located at 950 Hart Road, one block south of Hart Road and Pine Street in Batavia. Questions about the sale or how to participate can be directed to Penny in the church office at church@immanuelbatavia.org or (630) 879-7163 or visit immanuelbatavia.org/page/garage_sale for information about or directions to the sale.

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School welcomes visitors, new members, and new school families. We are "Developing Today's Disciples" by equipping people to follow Christ and live authentic faith. We are a family that demonstrates our faith in Christ by the way we love, support, and grow together. To learn more about Immanuel, visit immanuelbatavia.org.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.