Good Samaritan Hospital resale shop celebrates 50 years of giving back

Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Gingham Tree Resale Shop.

The shop, owned and operated by the hospital's Auxiliary, is an important part of Good Sam and the Downers Grove community with most of the proceeds going to support the hospital.

The shop began even before Good Sam opened its doors when a group of women in the community, married to area doctors, opened the shop as a way to raise funds to start the new hospital.

Fifty years later, the Gingham Tree, located on the Good Sam's campus, is the single largest philanthropic contributor to the hospital, providing nearly $10 million over the last five decades from its sales. These funds have gone toward constructing a private-room bed tower, renovating the Cardiovascular Services unit, and expanding the Bhorade Cancer Center.

"Through what I like to call transformational giving, the impact has been nothing short of incredible," said Gwen Kessler, supervisor of the Gingham Tree.

The notion of giving runs deep through the roots of this resale shop. For example, thanks to the Gingham Tree, no patient leaves the hospital in a gown.

Instead, patients in need are provided with donated clothing from the shop.

Nurses can even come after hours to get clothing and other items patients may need.

"If we have it, we'll donate it," said Tiffany Gardley, support services manager, who oversees the shop's operations.

The Gingham Tree - mostly staffed by volunteers, many of whom have worked there for more than a decade - offers clothing, accessories, household items, seasonal decor and more, donated from the surrounding community, hospital teammates, and organizations.

These volunteers do more than sell the items in the shop, Kessler said. "They share advice, lessons about life and work, their experiences, expertise, and stories. They're role models that show me how I want to age gracefully and live well."