Autumn 2025 - Rummage Sale Recap

October 30th, 2025

Rummage sale success

Autumn 2025 ~ Rummage Sale

Our Autumn Rummage Sale was held Oct 3+4 – and blessed with some great Indian summer weather too! “Thank you” to the many ‘donors’ who had accumulated and saved their donations. We were able to get a jump start on the week. After Oktoberfest, tables were set up and ready for donations that we received the next day after worship.
Our volunteers assembled on Wed + Thurs with many helping hands working in staging our donations. Areas included the garage (coordinated by Linda Smykowski) , under the pavilion with clothing, etc. (coordinated by Cathy Whiteside), jewelry and fine collectibles (coordinated by Suzanne Girsch and Char Sportsman), as well as holiday decor and household goods in Fellowship Hall, and spread into 2 Sunday School rooms (Twyla Strom and Marty Bradley). Other volunteers at various times during the week were: Ian Engberg, Cara Turner, Cathy Whiteside, Karen Patterson, Chris Gerke, Diane Lilly, Jon Whiteside, Nancy Corbige, Helen Gruber, Cathy Lindquist, Dottie Mantsch, Kay Kinsel, Kathy Hooey, Kurt Redemann, Cheryl Nelson, Vicky Linden, Steve/Ann Butcher, John Verner, Janice Muncie, Leonette Pahr, Nancy Burtnette, Cassie Muenster, Megan Brannen, Nancy Schnaitman, daughter Sally and grandson, Brian, Dallas Peters. Sale signs were set up/placed/taken down by Bill/Lori U’Ren, Kurt Redemann and Tricia. . (** I apologize as I may have missed your name as I do try to track the willing hands that are with us during the many tasks each day ).

Special note of thanks to those that helped in our clean-up efforts and helped load a few cars with donations going to MSHV/Help-a-Veteran (Wheaton + Downers Grove) a/k/a Operation Sweet Life, Karen Broten with various items (shoes, clothing, books) she collects and send to the Joe Boway Family for the Liberian Children’s Mission school in Liberia, Elgin Homeless (men). Ongoing thanks and blessed gratitude to Cathy Whiteside, with her ‘team’ that carries on in her absence, and Cathy who continues to coordinate several avenues and charities before and after the sale with various clothing items: select items for Christmas Shoeboxes, in-season clothes are assembled and given to Pastor Anna-Kari for the people coming into Chicago (all ages) and donations taken to First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago.

The success of this sale comes from a church-wide effort with all of your ‘material’ donations and contributions along with your extra time and talents. It is gratifying to capture so many volunteer helping hands. This event draws many from the community and with our continued efforts we pray this brings these visitors back to join in
worship and other ministries with us. Without the help of many of you, it would not be such an efficient routine. I feel so blessed that so many of you dedicate your time, talents and goods to support this fundraiser for Grace.

Our 2-day sale netted ~ $4,900! The dollars raised certainly help offset some of our building maintenance expenses in our continuing care of God’s house (the week after the sale we had to replace the well pressure tank!) I’m grateful and thankfully pray for all of the support that so many of you have given – many hands do make all of the tasks at hand, run smoothly. The fellowship and support are priceless!

In Peace, from Your Fellow Grace Member, Tricia Painter, Rummage Sale Coordinator

Posted in Community Message