Frugal fashions to be found at Geneva school's clothing resale
Do you cringe at paying $90 for a first communion dress that your daughter will wear only once?
Does your 4-year-old outgrow his $25 Gap jeans well before he wears them out?
And where can you get a bike for $10 so that you won't go insane every time the kid leaves it out on the front lawn overnight?
The Western Avenue Elementary School PTO spring and summer clothing resale March 6 and 7 is for you.
People come from Wisconsin and Michigan to shop the resale, which features 200 sellers. "We just have such a reputation. People line up hours ahead of time," said volunteer Cathy Ostergard.
The gymnasium at 1500 S. Western Ave. in Geneva will be stuffed with deals. Like perfectly good Gap shirts for $2.50, denim shorts for $1, a boys Mulberribush shirt-and-jams outfit for $3 that would normally go for at least $30.
"That's the only way my daughter gets to wear Abercrombie or Aero (Aeropostale)," said Sheryl Duer, another volunteer.
The PTO puts on two sales a year; last school year it raised about $20,000 to help the Geneva school, Duer said.
But "It's not just about the school," Ostergard said. "It's nice to see things get used again."
Besides clothing for infants through junior size 5, the sale features uniforms, dance class outfits, shoes, accessories, toys, books, video games, strollers and bicycles. There is even a pull-behind bike trailer for sale.
"It's always interesting to see what the big item for Christmas was that didn't go over well," said Ostergard, remembering a sale where three Dora the Explorer playhouses were available.
The sale is from 6 to 9 p.m. March 6 and 8 to 11 a.m. March 7. Friday night, leave the kids and the stroller at home, because those younger than 10 won't be allowed in due to the size of the crowd (and there will be security making sure children aren't left in cars in the parking lot.)
On Saturday, all white-tagged items will be half-price.
Bring cash or a check to pay.
"The school benefits. The seller benefits. And the shoppers are able to get things you may not have been able to get," Ostergard said.