Kenilworth Union Church rummage sale offers amazing maze of treasures

Looking for couturier dresses? Hoping to find the right doll for a granddaughter, or perhaps a bicycle or skateboard to speed up your morning commute? What about fine jewelry, men’s shoes, books, a painting, luggage for your next trip?

The annual Kenilworth Union Church rummage sale offers many of those items.

The sale, which got started Thursday with a pre-sale event, picks up from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 211 Kenilworth Ave., Kenilworth.

Not only is it a church tradition stretching back almost 70 years, said volunteer Vivian Vahlberg, it creates longstanding friendships among the roughly 300 volunteers. It’s also a treasure trove of bargains for people from across Chicago and the North Shore, who often return year after year, and raises thousands of dollars for charities.

“That’s what I love about it, these layers of benefit,” Vahlberg said as she readied for the pre-sale, which drew bargain hunters willing to pay a premium to get first dibs on rummage treasures. “People benefit by getting rid of the junk in their homes, while others benefit by getting those things as bargains.”

“What also boggles my mind is that in that process, this sale produces $100,000 for charities, in just two days,” Vahlberg said.

This year the church will donate proceeds to 38 service agencies, she said.

The Rev. Jo Forrest, senior associate minister at the church, agreed.

“That’s the visible benefit, with 100 percent of the money will go to the outreach agencies,” Forrest said.

For Forrest, however, the sale is important for other reasons as well. “There are people who come from a couple of doors down looking for a golf putter, and there’s someone who’s taken mass transit to get their children’s clothes for the year. We have all stripes of people, all ethnicities and all economic levels.”

The sale, which has almost 30 departments, takes up almost every square inch of the church.

“Not only is it amazing, it’s a bit of a maze!” Forrest joked.

One of those willing to pay a little extra at the pre-sale was Tilda McClure, who came from Chicago to do some discerning shopping in the high-fashion French room.

“I like the quality of the clothes,” she said, holding a find of her favorite brand, Maxmara. Across the room, Wilmette resident Samantha Pagels, who called herself a rummage sale veteran, showed off the royal blue shawl coat she’d found for her mother.

Becca Dudley of Evanston was all smiles as she looked for a green top. Eyeing the tops on display in the women’s clothing department, she said she isn’t able to shop for the brands the sale had on display.

“But some of the people who donate here can shop for them, and I get their fancy cast-offs,” she grinned.

Over in the men’s department John Augustine of Chicago was checking out shirts and underclothing. Augustine, who said he’d been coming to the sale for years, said his strategy for shopping success is simple: “Be the first in line!”

Augustine said he liked how organized the sale is and how considerate everyone is, both volunteers and fellow shoppers.

Upstairs, Chicagoan Luslene Desormeaux was shopping with four of her five children for new outfits. She was also looking for clothing she could send to people who needed it in Haiti. She’s attended the sale for the past 10 years, she said, traveling from Rogers Park.

More Top Picks Best 2 In 1 Laptops For Home Use

“It’s one of the best sales. There’s no junky stuff and people are polite,” she said, sorting through some denim shorts for her daughter.

Once the sale ends, the good it does continues, Forrest said. Items that aren’t sold go to other rummage sales, or get sent to agencies that can use the goods.

“All of these things are going to find a home. Nothing will wind up in a landfill,” she said.