Prospect Early Bird Sale

The early bird gets the goods at Prospect Presbyterian Church. This Saturday, August 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is the opening day of the church’s annual Early Bird Sale. The sale, a local institution for nearly 30 years, has a loyal cadre of workers and shoppers. Co-chairs of the sale are Pat Bullock, Lillian Gibson and Caroline Farnsworth, members of the group Presbyterian Women.

The sale is staffed by  volunteers, according to Connie Cosgrove, including “sorters” who spend endless Tuesdays and Thursdays unpacking donations, department organizers, and the many who help with clean-up after the event.

“This is truly a community effort in the life of our church—a major mission effort,” explains Cosgrove. “We are so happy to be able to accomplish this sale and to give away all of our profits to many organizations and groups that are less fortunate.”  She notes, “We concentrate on projects that are related to children and women mostly.  We also provide a much-needed service to many of our neighbors who may not have the funds to outfit children for school and the winter to come. After the sale we donate all the 'leftovers' to various other groups that can make use of the items. It keeps lots of ‘stuff’ out of the landfills and we surely are 'recyclers extraordinaire.'"

The entire church basement is dedicated to the sale, with each room given to a different department. Children’s clothing is next to toys and sporting goods, and there are a number of kids’ bikes for sale. Teens have a room of their own, filled with flip-flops, trendy clothes, and necklaces.  Men’s and women’s clothing, seasonal décor, books and movies, lead down a hallway to housewares.  The art department leads to boutique, which has higher-end clothing and, in another room, collectibles, including Waterford crystal and jewelry.

“There is a wonderful community that is created when we spend days and evenings sorting,” says Cosgrove. That community of volunteers benefits the larger community by offering an opportunity to donate, to purchase, and benefit from the Presbyterian Women’s mission work.

The Gala Rummage Sale will take place again on Friday, September 11, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, September 12, from 9:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.