2026 Fall Rummage Sale Post Report
What a fabulous Fall Rummage Sale we had. Here are some of the highlights:
94 volunteers signed in and worked to sort donations, assist customers, were cashiers or set up and tore down facilities. This sale could not happen without each and everyone of you! Thank you for your time and commitment to this community outreach ministry.
Additionally a dozen young men were pulled in from the street corner to help set up and when asked why they were not working, they replied, "No one has hired us yet." (They did receive the full wage.) Thank you to Eric Eskuri. and John Neuville for coordinating.
Boy Scout Troup 1 leaders and scouts were seen along with several families and young adult men and women assisting with tear down and packing up unsold items, and are in addition to the 94 volunteers who had signed in. Great job folks!
Approximately 15 department leads organized and beautifully displayed their items. Thank you for your many hours!
We had 8 First time volunteers sign up!
Our PR department rocked with online advertisements, flyers posted in area shops, newspapers and neighboring parishes bulletin announcements, and everyone that put up a lawn sign, Thank you! It worked. Thank you to Mike Seitz, Eileen Moore and Kevin Gearns for bringing in about a thousand customers onto our campus!
Every customer received an invitation to come back and learn more about our true treasure Jesus Christ. Thank you to Fr. David for his written "Welcome and Invitation" letter and Kevin for "What's Happening at St. Mark's" handout.
Approximately 170 Sneak Peek shoppers stood in the rain and paid an entrance fee to get first dibs at our treasures and brought in approximately $4000.
We added a Vintage and Boutique Department this year and sold $724 in that department alone, with more income forthcoming from consignment and online sales. Thank you to Mary Henseler! She even identified a $1000 authentic Louis Vuitton hand bag!
We offered electronic charges (credit cards, apple pay, direct donation to the parish) which brought in almost $5000.
As we expanded down the hallway with Art & Crafts, Office, Stationary and Party supplies, the traffic increased also for children's books and the Toys, Games and Puzzles room.
Mary Payne donated about 8 bookshelves of wonderful books to the book department!
The Mom's group donated about 20 bags of children's clothes and toys left over from the summer Free Swap.
Gene Thill was instrumental with meeting all our facilities management needs and putting in long hours to help us.
In addition to the thousands of dollars that will benefit local charitable organizations we were able to assist the following groups:
We collected about 10 boxes of new (with tags) items to donate to the Appalachian Missions Christmas store.
Many bags of items were bought for "The Listening House" for homeless persons in St. Paul.
Many bags of items were collected for the homeless Shelter for Families of Hennepin County.
Buckets of men's shoes were purchased for "The Vineyard" helping Veterans suffering from traumatic head injury.
Several teachers collected items for their nurses office to give to students in need of warm or clean clothes or shoes or boots.
Immigrant families gathered many items to help their community.
Habitat for Humanity and St. Vincent Depaul benefited from our unsold items.
About 10 car loads also went to Goodwill.
The Totals are in and we cleared a new record:
over $24,700!!!!!
This is even more than what we earned at this year's Spring Rummage Sale and about twice what we used to bring in just a few years ago. All the money raised by the CCW will be disbursed in the Spring to parish projects and charities.
Our next sales are the Christmas Boutique and Cookie Sale December 5 & 6. And the Spring Rummage Sale will be the last weekend in April: 4/22-4/25. Please mark your calendars now to join in the fun, and please consider joining the Coordinating team!
God Bless you all,
The Rummage Sale Coordinating team:
Eileen Moore, Patti and John Shrake
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