Make It Happen
- Several weeks or even months in advance, gather your volunteers to coordinate this event.
- Pick a date, time, and location for your sale. In most circumstances, you will want to have it after Thanksgiving, but not too close to Christmas. Aim for the first or second week of Advent. A great time for the sale is on the weekend, when people can shop before or after Mass.
- Early in the planning process, you should meet with an administrator at your church to discuss donation policies. Determine what kind of records must be kept, if receipts need to be given, and how to handle payment. Also determine if your donation must be processed through church finance records or can be taken directly to the organization.
- You will also need to set a date to receive donations for the sale. Be sure you have a designated spot for drop offs and adequate space to sort and price donations before your sale. Also, you will want a date that is far enough in advance of the sale to ensure that you receive enough items and have time to sort, price, and organize.
- You should also collaborate with young adults to identify a ministry or local non-profit organization that will receive the proceeds from your sale. Consider a ministry where many young adults serve within your parish community (Do they volunteer as leaders for the youth group’s summer service trips? Do many of them volunteer at the mid-week soup kitchen or food pantry run by your parish?). Or consider a local non-profit that has some connection to the young adults in your community (Does a young adult in your community work at the local tutoring center for low-income children? Have you teamed up in the past to build houses with your local Habitat for Humanity?). By benefiting a ministry or organization that your ministry is already connected to, this program can help foster community and relationships.
- Create the publicity for the donation of gift items as well as the sale itself. Consider print publicity such as posters and bulletin announcements as well as utilizing social media and Mass announcements. Be sure to include details like what kind of items you wish to have and will be selling. See “Publicize the Program” for more suggestions.
- Begin collecting donations. Whether you host a few drop-off dates or have a box/location for ongoing donations, be sure to sort the donations as they come in. Arrange items into categories such as household items, novelty, and so on. Be sure every donation has all its parts and is clean, free from damage, and functional. If you get items that are dirty or need repair, determine if you can spruce them up. If not, pitch or recycle them. (TIP: Items that are outdated or out of fashion are tricky. If people in your community appreciate retro items, go for it. If not, see if someone can reuse or upcycle the items into cool gifts!)
- As items come in, be sure you have enough space to adequately display them. Consider which items can be displayed on a table or placed on the floor.
- Have two or three volunteers put prices on all the items.
- The day before your sale, arrive early to set up your space. Make sure items are clearly and attractively displayed. Also ensure plenty of space to walk while browsing.
- Make sure the price is clearly marked on all items. If an item has multiple parts or is a pairing (i.e., wine glasses and a bottle of wine), arrange them in a gift basket or be sure the tag clearly indicates what is included in the price. (Be sure your volunteers know if prices are firm or negotiable!)
- Ensure that you have a cash box, cash for change, and bags to offer your customers. You may want to have information about upcoming events or groups, especially for the organization that will receive your donation. You may also wish to have a jar for people who simply wish to make a cash donation to the organization. (NOTE: Determine in advance if this is a cash only sale, or if you can accept checks and/or credit cards.)
- Enjoy the sale! Have a few volunteers mingle while people shop or help people carry their goods to the car. (TIP: Never leave the cash box unattended. Unfortunately, theft can happen at church, too.)
- Support and encourage your young adult volunteers during the gift sale as they run the cash box, greet customers, and pass along information about the benefiting ministry or organization, as well as your young adult ministry.
- After the event, donate all remaining gift items to a local thrift store, shelter, or community center.
- Total up the proceeds from your sale and deliver funds to the benefiting ministry or organization. Be sure to follow the process determined by your parish regarding donations.
- Follow up with the young adult and wider parish community about the success of your sale. Consider circulating an announcement thanking all who participated in the sale and informing all about the total funds raised. This event requires a good deal of planning! Be sure to thank and affirm all the young adult and community volunteers who helped to make it happen!
Ideas
- There are ways to emphasize the “Teach” component of this program. For instance, you could introduce the program and solicit volunteers for the planning team after hosting an evening of teaching and discussion about Christianity and consumerism. This would contextualize the gift sale as a concrete way to act on our Christian values of charity, poverty, and service in contrast to greed and consumerism. See the “Help” section for reading recommendations.
- Consider having coffee, tea, and light pastries for your customers to purchase and enjoy while they browse. Invite young adults to feature their talents by donating handcrafted items such as jewelry, note cards, or Christmas décor.
- If your area has a holiday sale or bazaar, consider getting a booth at that event instead of hosting your own sale.
- Rather than soliciting donations, talk to your local Catholic Relief Services representative about hosting a Fair Trade Sale featuring fair trade coffees, teas, chocolates, and other products.
Help
For books on consumerism that can enrich the “Teach” component of this program, see Tom Beaudoin’s Consuming Faith: Integrating Who We Are with What We Buy (Sheed & Ward) or William Cavanaugh’s Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.).
