Good Neighbors Turn Discards into Priceless Treasures

Anyone who has ever worked a rummage sale knows the most tedious part of the job is pricing the many items. Marybeth and Mike Schoenwald of Arlington Heights have eliminated that chore by not bothering to price at all. They call their annual event “The Truly Priceless Garage Sale.”

They started five years ago, in an effort to help victims of Katrina. After gathering items from friends and neighbors as well as their own home, they assembled them in their driveway and set out two jars: one for Catholic Charities, the other for the Red Cross. Shoppers were told to take what they wanted and put a donation in either jar. The entire $2,000-plus collected was turned over to those organizations for hurricane relief.

They have continued to build on the premise that people have things they do not want or need and there are other people out there with needs and not much money. The collection jars have expanded to include The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Pro Life Action League and the Women’s Center. Despite the no-price policy, they average $1,300 per year now, Marybeth said.

Mike said when he sees someone loading up and leaving little in return, he turns around and walks away. “I’m not in their situation, so I try not to be judgmental,” he said.

“We leave it in the hands of God,” his wife added. “My Catholic faith teaches me we do not own our goods.” She recalled being touched by the pregnant woman with two kids in tow, who was able to fill her old car with things she needed.

To get the goods in the hands of people who need them most, they advertise in many church bulletins, especially those that serve low-income parishioners. As the news of the sale has spread, so have the donors. Mike recalled getting a call to pick up an iron sink, which he lugged home with much difficulty. No sooner had he put it down in the driveway than a young couple drove by and pronounced it “perfect” for their needs.

One donor arrived with eight garbage bags full of designer clothes. Stores that are going out of business have dropped off unsold items. A recent widow asked Mike to come and g e t h e r l a t e h u s b a n d ’s o l d woodworking tools. They do not turn down any donation, Mike said, including a rusty grill that stood among the almost new grills until finally hauled away by a junk dealer.

Each sale day begins with a prayer which invokes the story of the loaves and fishes. And, there is a festive air throughout. Some neighbors come and spend the day, Marybeth said. “I don’t schedule any workers. They just seem to show up. And, the kids love it. Some set up lemonade stands.”

What is left at the end of the day is given to the Salvation Army. Just as no donation is turned down, neither is anything thrown away.

Marybeth and Mike, both in their 60s, have six children and six grandchildren, who often help with the sales. They are members of St. James Parish in Arlington Heights where they volunteer in the PADS program. They also helped start and are still active in a St. Vincent de Paul Conference there.

The Schoenwalds are also active in the pro-life movement, joining others every Thursday to pray outside an abortion clinic, then volunteering at the Women’s Center, which helps women in crisis pregnancies.

On the 13th of each month, in recognition of an appearance of Our Lady at Fatima, they pray the rosary in their home. They are part of a network of 150 people, which they formed more than five years ago. Participants send their prayer intentions to the Schoenwalds, who then compile them and send them on to members of the network. The couple’s life of prayer also includes a Bible study held twice a month in their home and once a month at the Moorings, a retirement community in Arlington Heights.

Mike, who retired from the information technology department of TTX Co., said, “She gets the brainstorms and I am there to help out.” Regarding the garage sales, he said, “She runs them. I do the grunt work.”

In February, the Village of Arlington Heights bestowed the annual Best Neighbor Heart of Gold Award on the Schoenwalds for their community involvement. Nancy Kluz, Arlington Heights community relations coordinator, said, “This award recognizes people who consistently go out of their way to be a good neighbor. The Schoenwalds came here in 1981 and they hit the ground running. They’ve been in PADS for 20 years. They raised money for Katrina. They give other people a chance to be involved.” When the special events commission reviewed the almost 100 nominees for this year’s award, the Schoenwalds “rose to the top,” Kluz said.

Marybeth said, “We were amazed to receive the award, but being recognized is not why we do what we do. Following the will of God and being open to His guidance directs everything we do. We believe that all of us have been given certain unique gifts by God and we are to use them as He prompts us. The sale is more than a fundraiser. …we ask for His help not to hang onto our loaves, nor to exact a set price for our fishes, but to leave it in His hands.”

The next sale is scheduled for Sat., Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 303 N. Hickory Ave., Arlington Heights. For more information, call 847-392-5506 or e-mail: mschoney@wowway.com.

Virginia Mullery is a freelance writer living in North Chicago, IL.