Find bargains galore at St. Peter’s Barn Sale
Maybe you’ve just moved your college student into her first apartment and she needs inexpensive furnishings. Perhaps you are opening a day care in your home and would like toys for the kids. Or maybe you just love to find a great deal.
Whatever the reason, the St. Peter Barn Sale offers something for everyone. This annual event will be held at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road in St. Charles from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, with breakfast available at 7 a.m.; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, with breakfast available at 8 a.m.
One can find antiques, baby items, bikes, books, clothing, shoes, dishes, electronics, fabric, furniture, housewares, linens, pet supplies, sporting goods, tools, toys and more at the sale.
Event co-chair Jeff Schmidt is excited about this year’s sale.
“We’ve had a lot of great things donated this year. People won’t be disappointed when they see the variety of items for sale. The Kane County Fairgrounds is a great place to see it all in one location.”
The community benefits from the barn sale in many ways. It provides a means for people to clear their homes of items they no longer want, minimizing what gets taken to landfills. The barn sale also helps families in tough financial circumstances to purchase necessities at drastically reduced prices.
Longtime volunteer Ron Volk recalls an experience from a previous Barn Sale.
“A couple purchased a sofa sleeper for $20, but didn’t have a way to get it to their apartment so I offered to bring it over in my truck. After we got it set up in the living room they told me, ‘Our son will be so excited — he’s never had a bed before; he has always slept on the floor.’” Volk said, “We don’t usually accept sofa sleepers but somehow this one got through and it was meant to be for this family. For me, this was a great reminder of why we do what we do at the Barn Sale. It’s about helping others.”
Local charities also benefit from the Barn Sale. Several charities are invited to come at the end of the sale to pick up remaining unsold items. The goal is to find a new home for every usable item.
In addition to the benefits for the community and local charities, the event builds camaraderie among parishioners as hundreds of volunteers come together for a great cause. “The barn sale would not be successful without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and parishioners,” says Schmidt. “When you work with people through the summer sorting items and getting ready for the sale, you build great friendships. I’ve met many people that I may not have had the chance to meet if it weren’t for the Barn Sale. I can’t thank our volunteers enough.”
Proceeds from the barn sale will help pay down the Geneva parish’s building debt.
Admission and parking to the sale is free. No pets are allowed. For details, see www.stpeterchurch.com/59