:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/VGAI6UUR2OK2MUODUGGTIHD5OE.jpg)
McHENRY – In 1950, a small rummage sale was held in an auto repair garage in McHenry sponsored by the Christian Mothers and Altar Society.
Sixty-eight years later, the sale has expanded and moved to fill 12 rooms, one gym and a large field tent in the parking lot of Montini Catholic School. A stronghold of McHenry community tradition, the sale, put on by the Council of Catholic Women, has become a generation-spanning type of event, of which McHenry resident Ann Schmidt can attest to.
“It’s a family thing and you just keep brining that family in,” the St. Mary’s Rummage Sale co-chair said. “I’ve been involved in this for about 25 years from a volunteer standpoint but have been coming to it since I was young. My mother was a parishioner and was involved in it when I was young. You just tend to follow that.”
The 200-plus volunteers for the event range in age from 11 to a 94-year-old who did not allow her inability to use the stairs keep her from participating.
“She simply asked to move to work in another room on the first floor. ‘Of course!’ we told her,” Schmidt said. “She has no intention of making this her farewell year either.”
The rooms within the school are categorized for easy shopping. From toys, linens, clothes and furniture to Christmas decorations, the rummage sale offers something for everyone.
“The toy room is awesome and always a big hit,” Schmidt said. “I’m in the book room. You really can’t beat it. We get brand new books in there and with the Christmas and craft room, you can pretty much outfit your entire home. The sooner you come to shop, the better! We have people lined up at 6 a.m. on the first day to get in.”
The three-day rummage sale begins on Thursday, June 14 at 9 a.m. at Montini Catholic School at 1405 North Richmond Road in McHenry. Starting at noon on Friday, June 15, everything drops to half price and the final day of the sale offers whatever you can fit in a bag for $3.
“And we are pros at this and can fit a lot in one bag,” Schmidt said.
Donations of gently used items will be accepted June 8-12 at the Grand Avenue entrance of the school on the north side of the building. A list of items not eligible for donation can be found on the St. Mary’s Facebook page.
“It’s so important to the community because it can help the families so much with the prices we offer,” Schmidt said. “Being able to help our church and school is so wonderful. It’s an event people just don’t want to see go away.”
Last year’s sale raised more than $21,000 and the group hopes to exceed that number in 2018.
All proceeds go to the Montini eighth-grade class trip, a school bathroom remodel, the Council of Catholic Women to use for meals at the local PADS shelter and school supplies for the underserved children, as well as towards bell tower repairs at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Additionally, any items left over from the sale are brought to Savers in Crystal Lake where the group sells the items at a dollar amount per pound to be added to the sale earnings.
In her second year as a volunteer for the sale, McHenry resident Samantha Adams was a former rummage sale shopper turned shoe room chair. Adams said her involvement with the sale has made her witness to the positive affect it can have to McHenry community members and beyond.
“This sale touches so many lives,” said Adams. “On the last day of last year’s sale, a woman came into my room and through talking to her I learned that she lives in Aurora. She comes to the sale every year on the last day and buys as much as she can fit in her car to bring to her less fortunate relatives who would struggle making it through otherwise. I’m part of something huge.”
Outbox:
St. Mary’s Rummage Sale
Montini Catholic School
1405 N. Richmond Road, McHenry
Donation drop-off: items to be dropped off at the north side of the school building on Grand Avenue during donation hours.
Friday, June 6 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 9 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, June 10 – 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Monday, June 11 – 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 12 – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Items not accepted: Large appliances, microwaves, computers, monitors, printers, TVs, mattresses, car seats, baby cribs, used stuffed animals, paint, tires, couches, large entertainment centers, air conditioners, magazines, encyclopedias, text books, pianos and organs, sewing machines in cabinets.
Sale Dates:
Thursday, June 14 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday, June 15 - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. *everything half price starting at noon
Saturday, June 16 - 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. *$3 per bag for whatever can fit in a bag