For those parents looking to save a little money this spring on clothes and toys look no further than the “I’ve Out Grown It Sale” taking place at the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church on Mar. 24. The bi-annual sale event occurs every March and October as parents sell their gently-used kids’ clothing and toys. The sale has also become a fundraiser for two local charities, as a $2 entrance fee is donated to Elmira Kids & I resource centre and Stuffinstockings.ca, organized each year by Carolyn Parks in St. Jacobs.
Elmira Kids & I resource centre is a free drop-in for children up to Grade 1; the money helps to buy crafts for the kids to use and toys to play with. Stuffinstockings.ca makes Christmas stockings for children in shelters and low income families in the area.
“In March we sell spring or summer clothing and in October we sell winter clothes and snowsuits because that is what moms and kids are looking for at those times of the year,” said Julie Phillips, organizer of the sale. “We also sell toys, strollers and baby gear.”
The sale started a couple of years ago when Phillips moved to the region from out west and found that due to her work schedule she was unable to attend other regional sales and decided to start her own.
“We moved from Edmonton a while ago and it was a big thing out there, so I thought it would work here too. There are quite a few in the area, including Elora and Kitchener,” said Phillips. “Moms are always looking for used clothing.”
Phillips placed ads on Kijiji looking for parents who are interested in selling clothes or used toys and word spread quickly about the sale with 38 participants attending in March.
“We have never had any tables open, we always sell out on the tables, people are always looking to get rid of the stuff that they don’t need anymore.”
Last March Phillips raised $400 for Stuffinstockings.ca and in October managed to raise another $200 splitting that total between the resource centre and the Christmas stocking drive.
Parents selling at the sale keep the money for the clothing they sell and what does not sell is donated to the family support centre in St. Jacobs where they dispense what is given to them out into the community for those that need it, said Phillips.
“We have had a great response from this sale in the past, with over 200 people coming to the first one. People tell me they think it is a great idea especially raising money for the charities and recycling the clothing.”
Doors open at 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and there is plenty of parking at the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. For more information, contact Julie Phillips at (519) 206-1000.
