Geneva teen's garage sale to help homeless shelter

Ellen Wildman of Geneva agrees with her father: The joy of Ellen's Excellent Sale overrides the agony of setup week.

The camaraderie of working with friends and neighbors to raise money for Lazarus House shelter of St. Charles - as well as her belief in the shelter's work - is what keeps her organizing the multifamily garage sale on Union Street, now in its sixth year.

Ellen, a 15-year-old sophomore at Geneva High School, began the sale six years ago, after visiting the shelter with a church group.

Since then, her sales have raised almost $30,000 for the facility. And this summer, she was named the student representative to its board of directors.

Sales slowed Friday as a morning drizzle fell atop tarps covering furniture and tables of books and toys.

Elsewhere homemade brownies were available at the bake sale tent, along with raffle tickets for a chance to win an autographed photo of Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot, a souvenir helmet autographed by Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, and an autographed bat from Cubs Hall of Famer Billy Williams.

There's also a table where visitors can donate directly to Lazarus House, or sign up to help at the shelter.

Ellen admitted to getting a little "commandeering" during setup week, as she and volunteers sort through a mountain of donated items on her front lawn, but some friends on hand Friday lent their help and support.

"I'm really proud of you," volunteer Claire Bultema, 15, of St. Charles, told Ellen.

And the fact that a 9-year-old started all this?

"I think it is pretty amazing," said volunteer Regan Prost, 11, of Elburn.

The sale continues from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of Union Street, one block east of Geneva High School, between Logan and Lincoln avenues.