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Bargain Box benefits variety of charities
(by Sali McSherry - April 23, 2009)
Bargain Box benefits variety of charities
By SALI McSHERRY
Before 8 a.m., women line up from the door at St. Christopher's by-the-River Episcopal Church along sidewalk on Old Mill Road in the heart of Gates Mills. It's one of a handful of mornings in the village every year where it's almost impossible to find a parking spot. A police officer is on hand to direct traffic. The cars are lined up.
On April 24, Christopher Fox's Bargain Box will feed the appetites of shoppers who arrive from all Cuyahoga, Geauga and Lake counties and help fill the needs of a variety of charities.
It's considered one of the best sales in the area, said Gloria Soughan, 80, of Chagrin Falls, who has been a volunteer since 1972.
Look for designers like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Ann Taylor, gently worn clothes by Chico, Carole Little, and Eileen Fisher, as well as mink coats, silk scarves, stilettos and that's just a glimpse of the women's department.
The sale, founded in 1961, is held twice a year, once in October and once in April, and raises an average of $15,0000 per sale, with proceeds benefiting a plethora of church in-reach and outreach programs, Mrs. Soughan said.
In the early days, the Bargain Box featured a Cadillac in its treasure trove.
The shopping extravaganza, which also features antiques, silver, fine jewelry that has been appraised, men's and children's clothing, fine linens, small furniture, housewares and toys, will celebrate its 94th anniversary, she said.
What differentiates the Bargain Box from some other sales, Mrs. Soughan said, is that everything is carefully displayed so shoppers can see what is available. Things are not stacked up in piles, she said.
There's a room dedicated to toys, another to linens, clothes are arranged on hangers by size and category, and the "unique boutique" features some of the finest treasures in the sale, from silver and jewelry, to china and valuable artwork, she said.
The ladies' department, which Mrs. Soughan has chaired for years, even has fitting rooms, where there's great camaraderie as women ask each other, "Does this fit me," and swap clothes that don't fit, she said.
There's typically nothing over $50, she said.
About 60 percent of the proceeds have gone to organizations such as Womesafe, New Directions, New Life Community, inner-city feeding programs, scholarships, Interact Cleveland, Miles Park School, hospice care, she said.
The women's guild gives money to programs coordinated in Guatemala through the Peace Corps by Melanie Reda, who grew up in the congregation, Mrs. Soughan said. About 40 percent of the proceeds go to in-reach programs, such as Christian education for children, music and helping shut-ins, she said.
The sale is sponsored and organized by the Episcopal women's guild of St. Christopher's.
For more information, call the church at (440) 423-4451.
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