Rummage Sale

Rummage Sale -- Mission on Many Levels

The United Methodist Women of Birmingham First United Methodist Church have sponsored two rummage sales a year for 59 years. It is an all-church effort that involves 750 volunteers, a full kitchen for six days, and twenty hired workers. Grossing on average more than $90,000, all proceeds are used to bring hope and love to people around the world in Christ’s name. Nothing goes toward the church’s operating fund or apportionments. The next rummage sale is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (30% mark-up), Thursday April 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (regular prices) and Friday, May 1 from 9:00 – 11:00 am (Bag Day).

Pulling off what may arguably be the largest church rummage sale in the country calls for numerous checklists, procedures, and an org chart that includes four general chairpersons, thirty-five department heads, a chief cook, and volunteers who make pick-ups at people’s homes, unpack cars, sort clothes, fix things, and serve as pricers, cashiers and baggers. Departments range from clothing, jewelry, antiques, books, crafts, toys, household goods, sports equipment, linens, baskets, shoes and more. People come from Atlanta, Indiana, Ohio, and Canada specifically for the Rummage Sale.

Day workers who need jobs are hired, fed and paid a good wage. Professionals are on site who can fix, paint, and repair items for sale. Cardboard and unsalable books and computer equipment are recycled. Selected church mission and outreach projects as well as area non-profits are able to shop without charge at a set-apart time for whatever items they need for their organizations. Prices are kept low so that hundreds of people who cannot afford new clothes and furniture can find great bargains and for $10, customers are allowed to stuff all they can into a large plastic bag on the last day.

We draw closer to one another in community as we cheerfully sort endless bags of clothes, household goods, furniture and toys, and work, laugh and serve together. But, most important, we bring in God’s kingdom by enabling people with few resources to purchase necessary items, offering temporary jobs to those who need them, sharing Christ’s love with hundreds of shoppers, and sending tens of thousands of dollars around the world in mission to benefit men, women, and children.

For more information contact the church office at 248-646-1200 or go to fumcbirmingham.org. The church is located at 1589 W. Maple Road (between Southfield and Cranbrook) in Birmingham.