United Methodist Women to Hold Rummage Sale

When the doors open at the United Methodist Women's Rummage Sale May 10, the anticipated large crowds waiting outside will be greeted by a well-organized sale, thanks to the efforts of nearly 150 volunteers.

Those volunteers will spend the better part of next week accepting donations for the sale and then organizing the items into categories: housewares, linens, crafts, toys/games, electronics, books, clothes and more. Rummage Sale Co-Chair Janet Hartkop said a couple of volunteers even organize the clothing by color and the books by author.

"When we open the doors on Friday morning, it's very organized," said Hartkop. "An hour later, it isn't."

The women of United Methodist Church of Libertyville hold two rummage sales each year—one in May and the other in October—and have done so for years. Just how many years is unclear, Hartkop said. She's been attending the church for more than 30 years, and the sale has been going on a lot longer than that—possibly even 50 years, she said.

"Nobody seems to know," she said.

What she does know is that each sale brings in about $9,500 on average, with the funds being used for various missions projects. For example, the women donate money to various local organizations at the end of each year, as well as to the United Methodist Women district and the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

"Our main focus is contributions to missions," said Hartkop.

What's also great, however, is that the rummage sale serves as a big recycling event, she said.

"It amazes me that twice a year, we come up with all of this stuff," said Hartkop. Donors for the rummage sale are largely members of the church, but members' friends also donate. At the end of the sale, items that didn't sell are donated to places like the Cancer Federation, the Marcy-Newberry Association in Chicago and the Waukegan Public Library.

"We put very little in the trash at the end of the sale," said Hartkop. "Our church is a green church. We're very conscious about recycling. We do everything we can to make sure we don't put things in the garbage that will end up in the landfill."

"And we feel like we are helping people who can't afford to go somewhere else to buy things, but they can come here and buy an outfit for their child for $1," she added.

Donations will be accepted at the church's Fellowship Hall from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. May 6-8. The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 10, during which time all items in the Fellowship Hall will be just $1. Items outside near the garage, including furniture and other large items, will have higher prices. The sale will continue from 9 a.m. to noon May 11, when all items in the Fellowship Hall will be sold at a discount. Customers can either fill a bag for $5 or buy items at half-price in the Fellowship Hall, Hartkop said.