Upscale Rummage, a volunteer-based, not-for-profit resale shop, gave out more than $120,000.00 in cash donations! The number of organizations YOU help us support keeps growing. We honored more than 25 families through our voucher program, setting them up with furniture and basic needs to get their lives back on track.
Sharing Saturdays resumed with the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation and St. Demetrios Ladies Philoptochos Society having very successful (and fun!) days, grossing more than $10,000, providing support for their causes.
All of this while overcoming a collapsed roof that kept us closed for 5 weeks, and the subsequent flood that kept us closed another week. Both events had silver linings, evidenced by the major sprucing up of the entire store.
Thousands of pounds of books were sent to other countries through our alliance with Books4Cause. Clothing and shoes were either sent to other countries or recycled through our relationship with Helping Hands. Thousands of pieces of clothing and shoes were donated to other local non-profits, including prisoner reentry programs, Ukrainian refugees, and the homeless of Chicago and northern suburbs.
Upscale was nominated to present its mission to the members of Community Purse, an organization dedicated to supporting non-profits through monetary grants. We were chosen to receive that night’s grant and it was very well spent on the paving of our small parking lot, which was sorely needed.
A neighbor donated a gurney used in their Halloween display! It is now on its way, along with our crutches, walking boots, canes and other medical supplies, to Indonesia, where a customer supports those less fortunate.
I’m sure you’ve seen ‘em, cuz you can’t miss ‘em. Our PINK trucks! Everyone loves them and Victor doesn’t seem to mind driving them.
We were voted one of the top resale shops in Chicago by Sustainable Jungle and a Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor.
We work with the transition program of Lake Forest High School. Three students and their supervisor volunteer three days a week and we love having them.
Customers found thousands of great finds, due to our very reasonable pricing, half-off sales and a Free Day that emptied out in two hours!
A well-known retail store is closing in Arlington Heights, and they generously DONATED over 50 rolling merchandise racks. They have transformed our lives, especially on the dock.
Upscale Rummage is a TON of work and a labor of love for our volunteers and employees. I can’t even begin to thank them all for their dedication. Enormous gratitude and love from me to Wanda, Rosanna, Victor, Carrie Ann, Jill, Lori, Rebecca, Debbie, Adan, Glory, Lori P, Sandra, Mary, Linda, Luisa, Jeanne, Krystine, Annette, Angel, Rogelio, Adan, Andres and our seasonal help, Eric, Pat, Yasmin, Zayd, Charlie, Owen and Anna Mae.
Our warehouse is overflowing with new donations! If you feel like volunteering, NOW is the time! Donations will resume on January 17, as we implement our new intake program.
Our customers were rock stars this year! They introduced us to so many new friends, meaning more people than ever are experiencing the joy of giving. When you shop at Upscale, you add to the higher purpose of supporting those in need, letting those that feel left behind, receive the safety and love that may be missing from their lives. You make a difference to more people than you’ll ever know.
Thank you so much and have a spectacular New Year.
Renée Baldwin
Founder
Upscale Rummage and Furniture Warehouse
