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Important Dates

Get Ready... speaks for itself!

Get Set... bring your stuff over Saturday, July 9 from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday, July 11 from 1-9 pm, and Tuesday, July 12 from 1-9 pm to the school cafeteria (1120 Washington Street).

Go! Come shop on Saturday, July 16 from 8 am to 1 pm in the school cafeteria (1120 Washington Street). 

Donations Guide

NOT ACCEPTED: adult clothing, shoes, and accessories; perfume and toiletries; office supplies, stationery,
gift wrap, photo albums, picture frames; medical equipment and personal health items; CDs, records, DVDs,
cassette tapes; luggage; stoves, full size refrigerators, and freezers; camping gear
NOT ACCEPTED: anything ripped, stained, broken, dirty, or not working

JEWELRY ACCEPTED FOR FUTURE SALE
CATEGORY
DESCRIPTION
Bikes and Helmets
​Bikes, trikes, wagons, and scooters, clean and in good, ride-able condition
Books
Children’s books
Not Accepting​
​NO books or magazines for adults
Children's
Baby and children’s clothes, shoes, outerwear, infant seats, high chairs, infant toys,
nursery décor, sports gear and equipment (child and adult), backpacks, costumes
Not Accepting
​NO car seats or cribs; only “gently used” clothing
Furniture
​Furniture small enough to fit into a car and be carried by one or two people: small
chairs, tables, bookcases, dressers, ottomans, and accent furniture
​Not Accepting
​NO couches, china cabinets, entertainment centers, beds, mattresses
Garden & Patio
​Mowers, lawn chairs, small tables, garden tools, planters
Housewares
​Pots, pans, dishes, plates, bowls, plastic dish sets, drinking glasses, flatware, serving
trays, casseroles, storage items, utensils, small gadgets
​Not Accepted
NO silver plated items or large sets of china
Kitchen Appliances
​Small kitchen appliances: toasters, blenders, microwaves, coffee makers, can openers,
mixers, irons, instant pots
Knick Knacks
​Small décor items, candles, baskets, vases, crafts, religious items
Not Accepted
​NO Christmas or holiday items
Linens
​Bed and table linens, window treatments, decorative pillows, small throw rugs, craft
supplies (fabric, yarn)
Small Electronics
​Flat screen TVs only, lamps, vacuum cleaners, fans
Not Accepted
​NO computers, printers, fax machines, phones, chargers, radios
Tools
​Small power tools, hand tools, hardware, new paint brushes and supplies
Not Accepted
NO liquids or paint
Toys
​Puzzles and games, Legos, toys, dolls, art supplies
​Not Accepted
​NO broken toys, items with missing pieces, stuffed animals

Limited Edition FAQs

​Why try to have a sale this year?
​With rising inflation, many more families with children are struggling financially.  So are students, young people setting up households, immigrants, and refugees.  Our rummage sale is a service to this broader St. Nick’s community.  Also, our sale has earned a reputation for being one of the premier rummage sales on the north shore.  After a two-year hiatus, our “competitors” are returning.  We want to be back too.
​What are the reasons behind the decisions about what to accept?  
​This year’s sale will feature those items that have sold well in the past and that are the best fit for the realities of this year: a limited volunteer base and higher need for certain items in the community.  A list of accepted and not accepted items will be available soon in the bulletin and on the parish website.  
​Will COVID safety protocols be in place on sale day?
​All volunteers and shoppers will be required to wear masks both indoors and outside. St. Nick’s will provide surgical masks to anyone who doesn’t have a mask or who is wearing an inadequate mask such as a bandana or gaiter.
​What happens if the COVID numbers keep climbing?  
​The situation will be assessed on July 1, and if it seems too risky, the sale will be cancelled. 
​Why use only the school cafeteria and not the social hall as well?  
​This decision was made for five reasons:  the air conditioning in the cafeteria during set-up days, superior ventilation for increased safety, adequate space for the limited number of items, fewer volunteers needed on sale day, and a perception of “abundance” for customer enthusiasm.
​Will there be food for purchase?
​No. The sale will have limited hours (8:00 – 1:00). Also, mask wearing is more easily enforced if no food is sold or consumed on campus.
​If I volunteer, will I get to attend a pre-sale?  
​Yes.  Every volunteer who spends a minimum of four hours during set-up and sorting days will be able to shop from 6:00 – 7:00 on Friday evening.  No guests will be invited to the pre-sale this year.
​Can I arrange to have donations picked up at my house/apartment?  
​No. The pick-up service provided in past years won’t be available because of COVID concerns and fewer volunteers for this work.  Similarly, shoppers must arrange to transport their own purchased items.
​If I have an item that I’m not sure is OK to donate, whom can I ask?
​The parish website will be set up to take questions.  A member of the committee will respond. 
​What if I bring something to donate and it isn’t accepted?  
​A volunteer will give you a list of local charities, their addresses, and the types of donations that they’re accepting.   
​Will charities get our leftovers?
​As in past years, charities will get as many of our leftover items as possible. 

Didn't find an answer to your question? Contact us! 
Please allow 24 hours for a response to be sent to your question. We are working hard and promise we will get back to you as soon as we can!

    Rummage Sale Question Box

Sign up to Volunteer!

"Where can I take my stuff if you won't take it?"

Adult clothing and shoes
  • Goodwill - 1916B Dempster, Evanston  (in the corner of the shopping center with Valli Grocery )
Women's new and gently used fashionable clothes, shoes and accessories
  • YWCA Shop For Good, 1107 Central in Wilmette. Supports the YW's domestic violence and economic advancement programs for women. https://www.ywca-ens.org/what-we-do/shop/
Office supplies, stationary, gift wrap, photo albums, picture frames
  • Goodwill
Durable Medical equipment (walkers, canes, wheelchair etc. MUST BE WIPED DOWN WITH ANTISEPTIC Wipes), personal health items (UNOPENED Depends, cleansing wipes etc.)
  • Heart to Heart Closet/St. Gertrude's Church, 6214 N. Glenwood, Chicago  773-973-5464
CDs, records, DVDs, tapes
  • Goodwill
Luggage
  • LARGE LIGHTWEIGHT suitcases to Solidarity Bridge to transport medical supplies to Bolivia/Paraguay. 1703 Darrow, Evanston. 847-328-7748
  • SMALL suitcases to Goodwill
Stoves, full size refrigerators and freezers. Adult Books
  • Books to Women In Prison. PAPERBACKS ONLY
See www.chicagobwp.org. Northside drop off spot.
  • Goodwill
Magazines - No one takes magazines.
Car seats, baby cribs
  • no one takes them due to consumer safety Issues
Furniture - couches, china cabinets/hutches, TV entertainment centers, beds, mattresses.
  • Couches In good condition possibly to Chicago Furniture Bank, 4801 S. Whipple St. , Chicago. (312) 752-0211 www.donate@chicagofurniturebank.org. No one wants the big pieces like hutches and entertainment centers. Mattress resale is prohibited.
China sets, silver plated Items
  • Goodwill
Christmas/holiday Items
  • Goodwill
Computers, printers, fax machines, phones & phone chargers, radios
  • Goodwill
  • Best Buy may take 3 Items free per person of smaller Items. 2301 W, Howard St. Evanston. www.bestbuy.com  for list of limitations
Non-flat screen TVs
NO ONE takes them
Liquids (paint, perfume, toiletries)
  • No suggestion. Difficult to get rid of.
Broken bikes and bike parts. (We only take bikes In clean and good ride-able condition)
  • The Working Bikes Cooperative (www.workingbikes@yahoo.com) has a drop off arrangement with Wheel and Sprocket at 1027 Davis Street, Evanston. All items are repaired and donated to individuals and families in Chicago and other countries