RUMMAGE RUMINATIONS

First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest presents its 75th annual rummage sale, a community tradition.

R​EACHING UP HIGH, Melissa Burger stretches to finish styling an outfit on a dressmaker’s form in the window of the Lake Forest Shop. Promoting the 75th First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Rummage Sale which happens Saturday, May 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Burger has been changing up fashion ensembles on the form for several weeks to reflect the kaleidoscope of styles that have been donated through the decades since the beloved North Shore event began.

“It’s just one more fun way to promote our 75th year of the sale which is one of our community’s longest-standing ways to reduce, reuse, recycle—and rejoice,” says Burger, chairperson of the event. “We’re displaying the outfits on mannequins in three more locations as well—Gerhards, the Lake Forest Book Store, and Post Net Lake Forest.”

Ten of thousands of items have come through the sale since First Presbyterian’s women’s society started running it in 1950. Proceeds from the sale have grown from the first year’s gross of $3,600 to the more than $100,000 now donated through grants to more than 30 charitable organizations each year. That adds up to more than $2 million given to organizations in need since the sale’s inception.

Grantees include organizations such as Beacon Place, a neighborhood community center in Waukegan with programs for children and families; Curt’s Café, a restaurant which provides opportunities by teaching marketable skills and then assists in securing employment; and the Josselyn Center, which provides community-based mental health care in addition to creating awareness through outreach and community programming.

Originally held on the first Thursday of May, the spring event shifted to the first Saturday in May to better handle the crowds that came through town. Shoppers begin lining up hours before the 8 a.m. start time, many with favorite sections they want to visit among the 20-plus “departments” in the sale.

Organized in rooms and outdoor tents throughout the church’s property, that includes everything from basics such as Housewares and Electronics, to the special Treasures Room (antiques and high-end collectibles), French Room (upscale designer and vintage women’s clothing), and Bond Room (men’s high-end fashions).

The sale has evolved a lot over the years. It used to have a chosen theme, such as 1981’s “Spring Fever,” 1983’s “Spring Sale-ing” and the “Olde Curiosity Shoppe” in 1978. And it used to kick off with a Treasure Tea and a fashion show. “But in those days, donations for the sale were all gathered in a much shorter period.

With the shift to receiving donations year-round, the sale became a much bigger endeavor. It now takes over 600 volunteers to operate the weekly sorting of donations, manage sale-day set-ups and post-sale cleanups—an orchestration of dedicated care that endures.

“It’s really moving to see the commitment of our volunteers,” says Burger: “Some of these women are in their ‘90s and remain dedicated to the cause, showing up every week.”

Managing the volume of donated goods which can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the year (with the exception of the last two weeks before the sale), volunteers sort and store what can be sold. What can’t be used for the sale is forwarded to partner organizations. Last year for example, 1.3 tons of textiles went to USAgain, an organization that reuses clothing, diverting it from landfills.

Over the years, the sale has garnered some very unusual—and valuable—donations. Burger tics them off: “A sailboat, a car, a hot balloon…” And then one year, she recalls, “Someone brought in a painting that was very old and dirty.” Upon closer inspection of the faint signature, research into the painting’s provenance revealed that it was the work of Evariste Carpentier (1845-1922). “He was one of the earliest representatives of luminism in Belgium,” says Burger. Entitled “The Goat Herder” and painted at about 1870, the work was sold via auction for $36,000. But unusual treasures aside, “what’s even more significant to me about this sale is that the spirit of this entire event is so communal,” sums Burger. “So many groups throughout Lake Forest work together to make this a successful event that benefits others. Youth from our church, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest College sports teams, Boy Scout troops and more. It really renews your faith in humanity.”

Celebrating the history of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest Rummage sale, the church will be producing a documentary video to be shown this fall. For information on that and other events leading up to the sale, donating items, or volunteering to help sort and run the sale, please contact [email protected].