Parents of Twins, Triplets and Other Multiples Find Deals at TPHS

The halls of went from being filled with teenagers and book bags to parents and baby carriers over the weekend for the Cluster Moms of Multiples Club clothing and equipment sale.

Minivans and cars with child seats for twins, triplets or other multiples filled the parking lot and the impromptu parking spaces they made along the grass on the school’s perimeter.

Shoppers braved a wintery mix of early-March weather standing in line as early as 6 a.m. for the sale that went from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. About 200 people had already entered the school to bargain shop within the first hour of the sale. Admission was $2.

Organizers were at the school as early as 3 a.m. preparing for the sale.

“This is a big event for us. A lot of people come out to support us,” said Clothing Sale Chairwoman Julie Boyles said.

Saving money was the theme for most parents at the sale.

“I saved so much money. I will definitely be back at the next sale,” New Lenox resident Angel Powers said.

Boyles learned of the sale when she was pregnant in 2006.

“I have twin boys and a daughter. I went to a sale and immediately became a member afterwards,” she said.

The Orland Park-based Cluster Moms of Multiples is a non-profit organization that supports moms of twins, triplets and more. So when they have a sale, shoppers can expect at least double of everything. And that was apparent immediately when you entered the school at 6111 175th Street. The school’s hallways were lined with racks of gently used shoes, books, games, cribs, high chairs, strollers, swings and bouncers. The clothing area took over an entire cafeteria. Long, straight racks, circular racks and hangers of all sizes were arranged in sections organized by gender and size. The pink, blue, yellow and white colors of the clothes made the florescent lights a little more tolerable.

The group puts on two sales a year: a Spring/Summer sale and a Fall/Winter sale.

That schedule works perfect for Mokena resident and mother of four Andrea Zeller, who brought along her 5-year-old daughter Emily Zeller, proud owner of a new favorite denim jacket.

“I’ve been coming to the sale since 1992. I clothe my children for the whole year at these sales,” Andrea Zeller said.

Five-year-old Jenna Forster was eager to show off her new Hannah Montana shirt.

“I’m excited,” she said, holding up her pink and white shirt.

Jenna’s mother, Kyra Forster, drove 45 minutes from Crown Point, Ind., to attend the sale.

“It’s expensive to buy clothes for three kids. This is so worth the drive,” she said.

Cheryl Wendy of New Lenox agrees. She stood in line with two laundry bags filled with clothes, books and games. She has two children at home and is pregnant with her third child.

“I have three kids to buy for … it’s not cheap,” she said.

Stay-at-home dad Michael Gregory perused the clothing racks with his 11-month-old son Lucas in a baby carrier. Michael's sister was carrying Lucas' twin Samantha in a matching carrier. Gregory said his wife learned of the organization after giving birth to the twins.

“The organization has been such a part of our lives now that we have the twins,” Gregory said. “So I wanted to come out and support the sale.”

But you didn’t have to be a parent of more than one child to take advantage of the sale. 

Chicago residents Selena and Matthew Higgins are on their first child and quickly learned how expensive it can be.

“She’s growing so fast,” Selena said.

Matthew didn’t mind being dragged out of the house for shopping.

“This is actually better than going to the mall because everything is in one place,” he said.

The Cluster Moms of Multiples Club meets on the second Wednesday of most months at in Orland Park. For information on joining, visit www.clustermoms.net.