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Nov 23, 2015 | Kevin Thompson

One Holy Mess: Rummage Sale Takes New Approach To Giving

A lot of churches have rummage sales. It’s a nice way to clean out the closets and make some extra money for the ministries of the church. Trinity, Marble Falls took a different approach to the annual rummage sale on October 16-17 by giving out $3,159 in “Trinity Bucks” to 90 community members from different non-profit organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, local food banks, a children’s advocacy center and a crisis center, to spend at the sale. The public was also able to purchase items as part of the event.

 

Sponsored by Trinity’s parish life, ministry and outreach and stewardship commissions, the “Trinity Bucks” give-away helped to reach out to those in need and also connect with the community in a very tangible way. The “Trinity Bucks” recipients got first pick on Friday and then the sale was opened up to everyone on Saturday.

 

“There would not have been a sale if we had not received so much,” said Penny Miller, senior warden at Trinity. “Hauling, pricing, marketing and helping customers find what they wanted were only a few of the gifts of time shared.”

 

From Nintendo Wii’s to kitchen appliances, there was a lot for guests to choose from. Each guest received $35 in “Trinity Bucks” to spend, with $2,410 spent in total during the two-day event. Guests even returned $230 in “Trinity Bucks” back to the cashier to help others pay for purchases.

 

Even with the experimental money, Trinity raised $2,335 from the sale. “I think it had to have been a God thing, it really made everyone feel really good.,” said Miller. “It not only was a wonderful gift to see our things bought, but it was wonderful to see others turn around and share more with people who didn’t have enough.”