Fall Rummage Sale

Looking for "gently used" treasures? The Barrington United Methodist Women are busy preparing for their spectacular annual "Rummage Sale" on Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th at the Barrington United Methodist Church, 98 Algonquin Rd. (southeast corner of Route 59) in Barrington! The sale will take place Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. There will be a half-price sale on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 in selected departments. Those departments will close at 4:45, and then re-open at 5:00 for the half price sale. Plus, Saturday shoppers can take advantage of their bargain Bag Sale, with all of the goodies you can fit into a $5 bag in selected departments!

Proceeds from the sale are distributed to many groups, including many local and Chicago-based organizations that work with women, children, and youth. Funds are also sent to the national organization of United Methodist Women, which is often described as "one of the largest organized women's group in the world!" UMW has nearly one million members who contribute to charitable programs and projects throughout the United States and more than 100 countries worldwide.

The Barrington United Methodist Rummage Sale is not just another rummage sale. It's an institution in the community. UMW's Rummage Sale was begun during the Depression. Women of the congregation gathered items they no longer needed and brought them to the church, trading with other families. As more items were gathered than could be used, it was decided to begin a rummage sale so others experiencing hard times could share the abundance. Now, over 75 years later, it continues to serve the same purpose: help families extend their purchasing power during difficult economic times. "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," remarked Carolyn Schneider.

The women who began the tradition also knew something that's now becoming popular--it's good to recycle! They found new uses for items or passed them on. The Rummage Sale is an opportunity to pass along unwanted, usable items instead of adding them to a landfill. "Donating items is a great way to 'be green'--it's a way of recycling and keeps usable items out of landfills," observes Nancy Koutsis. Items that are not sold also find new homes: furniture is donated to St. Anne's Project Hope, children's clothes, books, and toys were given to a local school's rummage sale; books, CD's, videos/DVDs were sent to Red Carpet Books, and specialty items were given to Hands of Hope.

Originally, the sale was held at the previous church site on South Hough Street in just a few rooms, where a handful of women spent a few days organizing clothes and kitchen items. The sale now fills up an entire wing of the new building and a tent full of furniture! The lower level contains clothing (including men's, women's and children's), shoes, purses, and children's toys. Departments upstairs include electronics, lamps, books, CD's, videos, computer hardware and software, house wares, tools, linens, holiday items, crafts, and fabrics. Countless volunteers help to sort, organize, and price the incredible array of items. Furniture, bikes, sporting goods, and lawn 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" filled with carefully selected items of high quality, including china, jewelry, clothing, antiques and collectibles, and other amazing treasures! "You can find most anything from designer label clothing and famous maker purses to fine lace antique tablecloths, a cute Christmas ornament or a piece of heirloom jewelry," remarked committee chair Mary Mellon.

Committee members include Sherrie Anuskewicz, Norma Jung-Stein, Nancy Koutsis, Pam Larsen, Mary Mellon, Linda Osikowicz, Carolyn Schneider and Sandy Starnes.

Donations of goods will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11th; Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 12th and 13th, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, Oct. 14th from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Tax donation receipts will be readily available. Any and all volunteers are welcome to help unpack, sort, and distribute merchandise. "We are so thankful for the many, many individuals who contribute items to the sale, the businesses who offer their support, and to the many volunteers who help prepare for the sale. We all have a great time!" says Nancy Koutsis. "And most importantly we look forward to seeing the many customers who come year after year to take advantage of our many bargains and great finds."

For more information regarding donations and volunteering, please contact (847) 836-5540.