Friday, September 30, 2016
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The trash ’n’ treasure sale at Martin Luther Lutheran Church is as much about offering an array of usable and inexpensive items to customers as it is about fellowship among members.
In the week leading up to Saturday’s sale, church volunteers spent hours pulling donated items from the storage space on the stage in fellowship hall. There was a method to the process, as they placed housewares, holiday decorations, linens, toys and electronics, to name some categories, on assigned tables. Then they did the pricing.
Eileen Mueller wears a name tag with the note “I’m the boss.” It’s her first year as coordinator of the 30th annual fundraiser. She consults with Lois Klein, who headed the activity for 29 years. Lois Klein and her husband, Joe, who handles the money and checkout, remain involved but felt it was time for them to step down from leadership roles.
“When I heard that, I prayed about taking this on,” Mueller said. It wasn’t a hasty decision on her part; it was made over time. “I thought I could do it with Lois’ help,” Mueller said.
Lois Klein sorted through donated items this week as she and other volunteers started Monday and spent hours through the week categorizing and pricing donations from church members, their families and friends.
Throughout its 150-year-plus history, the church has sponsored various fundraisers including craft shows, which continue as popular events at churches. Lois Klein said when she suggested the idea for the sale, the idea went over well. “At first, money helped support a church in Nicholasville, Ky.,” she said. “Now it goes to our general fund.”
Lois Klein said she believes the event is more than a sale. “We price things starting at 25 cents,” she said, noting that neighborhood residents on a budget appreciate the low prices. “It’s a great joy knowing you’re helping others,” she said.
As she spoke about the strong bonds that working on the project generated among church members, Lois Klein had tears in her eyes. “It’s great fellowship,” the member since second grade said.
Though she can get sentimental about memories of the many sales, there are smiles and laughter, too. “The first year, we counted up the profits and it was $999. Someone put down another dollar to make it $1,000,” she said. “We’ve made between $1,000 and $2,000. That’s good for a sale where so many things are a quarter.”
She continued that the rummage sale has garnered donations that included everything but the kitchen sink, then one year, they got that, too. “We have some things we don’t know what they are,” Lois Klein said. “But you can buy it for 25 cents.”
Joe Klein recalled one year when he got a jolt as he deposited sale proceeds at the bank for the church. “We had five $20 bills that were counterfeit,” he said. “Now I use a counterfeit pen to swipe the 20s.”
The Kleins have been married for 37 years and were wed at Martin Luther Lutheran.
Peg Kelly, a member since 1960 and sale volunteer since 1990, said she works “where they stick me.” This week, she organized Halloween and Christmas decorations and books.
Jewelry, Avon collectibles, Vera Bradley purses, hats and scarves are featured in a separate room, where Rita Brenner, a 50-year member, and Jan Buist, a 10-year member, priced items. “It’s a sale for the church but it helps people in the neighborhood,” Buist said.
“Once we found a necklace with a diamond,” Brenner said. More valuable pieces are sold to a jewelry store.