Barrington church's rummage sale to celebrate 85 years Oct. 5-6
This is a very special year for the Barrington United Methodist Rummage Sale - it is our 85th anniversary!
For 84 years, the sale has been a way to provide funds for mission work, a means for helping families stretch their budget, and a social gathering for workers.
An institution in the community, the sale began during the Depression. "Times were hard" as we've so often heard and church families reached out to help each other.
What started as a trade between families, evolved into a rummage sale so others experiencing hard times could share the abundance. Records of one of the first sales, in 1932, showed a profit of $11.67.
By the 1940s, there were two sales per year, spring and fall, and they netted $200 to $500 per sale. Some of the proceeds of the sale in 1944 purchased $12 of canned goods sent to the Lake Bluff Orphanage and the Methodist Old People's Home and articles sent to Wesley Memorial Hospital Auxiliary for their bazaar.
It is said that by this time the sale had become so well known that families would ride the train out from Chicago to take advantage of the sale.
In the 1960s, profit from the sales was often over $2,000; sales continued to be held in the spring and fall and included a bake sale.
A newspaper article highlighted items for the "Specialty Shop:" "There is a sofa-bed, overstuffed chairs, porch furniture and an antique bed. Coffee and rolls will be served in the Upper Lounge where the bake sale will be held."
Proceeds were given to the support of such projects as Peek House in Polo, Marcy Center and Newberry Settlement House in Chicago, schools, hospitals, and work with Indian and Spanish Americans in the U.S. foreign missions.
When the fire destroyed the Barrington United Methodist Church building in the village of Barrington in October 1998, just a week before the scheduled sale, the Knights of Columbus offered their building, then on Kelsey Road.
With the help of amazing volunteers, items for the sale were donated and arranged for sale in just two days, instead of the usual five days.
The Knights continued to allow us to use the space until the new church building was completed in 2003.
Being able to continue the sale while without a church building meant Barrington United Methodist Women could continue to donate to several local missions, including Meals with Wheels, Barrington Youth Services, ChildServ, and the national organization of United Methodist Women, the largest denominational faith organization for women with approximately 800,000 members who contribute to charitable programs and projects related to women, children and youth in the United States and in more than 100 countries around the world.
Now, 85 years later, the Rummage Sale continues to serve the same purposes.
"The sale is a great opportunity to find some unique treasures and bargains. But more importantly, it provides funds for many worthy organizations and provides families a way to stretch their budget with a selection of needed items at a low price," said committee member Carolyn Schneider.
Sale profits continue to go to local organizations, such as BACOA's Meals with Wheels, FISH Food Pantry in Carpentersville, PADS, ChildServ, and to the mission work of United Methodist Women. Customers return year after year. Bags of clothing continue to be sent to family members on at least three continents.
Another benefit of the sale is that donating items is a great way to "be green." While the early organizers did not think of reselling items as being environmentally wise, they did know the importance of reusing and repurposing.
"Donating items is a way of recycling and keeps usable items out of landfills," commented Linda Osikowicz.
Ten years ago, the committee made a conscious decision to recycle as much as possible, so items not sold are donated to other resale shops and organizations or recycled.
So, we invite you to come and celebrate with us! The sale will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 6. A half-price sale will begin at 3 p.m. Friday in select areas and various special sales will be announced during the afternoon. Saturday shoppers can take advantage of their bargain "Bag Sale, with all of the goodies you can fit into a $5 or $10 bag in select departments and a half-price sale in the French Room and tent!
Shoppers will find clothing (men's, women's and children's), shoes, and children's toys in the lower level. Departments upstairs include books, CDs, DVDs, house wares, lamps, tools, linens, holiday items, crafts, pictures, frames, and fabrics. Jewelry, accessories, and purses are in a separate room. Small furniture pieces, bikes, sporting goods, and outdoor items are just some of the departments that fill the tent to the seams.
"One of the outstanding areas not to be missed is the 'French Room.' No longer just the nicer items, the 'French Room' has evolved into a true 'Specialty Shop', filled with carefully selected, high quality items, including china, clothing, antiques and collectibles, and other amazing treasures," said committee chair Mary Mellon.
Donations of goods will be accepted from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 1-2, and 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 3. Tax donation receipts will be readily available.
Volunteers are welcome to help unpack, sort, and distribute merchandise.
For more information regarding donations and volunteering, contact (847) 836-5540 or visit www.barringtonumc.com/article/annual-rummage-sale.