By Judy Seifert (Contact / Staff Bio)
October 10, 2009 - 11:35 a.m. EST

Twelve pairs. I bought 12 pair of shoes at the church rummage sale.

In the last 24 hours I’ve received a note at work, three phone calls and nine e-mails from ladies who want to know exactly where this church is and how they can get there.

Well, this is a clip-and-save moment because I’ll tell you.

The First Presbyterian Church is on 15 Mile Road, east of Woodward Avenue, between Cranbrook and Lasher Roads. Google or Mapquest it, ladies.

The sales are always held the first full week of May and the first full week of October. Sorting by workers begins the weekend before the sale opens to the public on Tuesday evening. The sale continues through Wednesday and Thursday.

My sister and I obviously work the sale as sorters on the weekend because we have jobs. As a sorter, we do get first shot at items coming through the door but we pay a 25 percent premium for that privilege. An example, if shoes cost $3 we tack on 75 cents, etc.

The reason we’re sorters? Like I explained last week, I have a friend who has been a member of that church for over 35 years and she invited me to work the sale and help out in the shoe department. My mom joined in a few years after I got started and then my sister.

The week of the sale, rooms in the church take on categories. There’s a room for purses, hats and scarves (I did get a Coach for $10 this time around), a room for lingerie, women’s clothing, men’s clothing, linens, drapes and rugs, furniture, sports, electronics, housewares, children’s clothing, an antique boutique and a cheap boutique (everything’s under $1), books, holiday items, a designers closet and children’s toys.

Whew!

Now, getting back to my shoes. Some may think 12 pairs of shoes is over the top. Not really. Three pairs were flip flops, one pair were boots, the rest – well, assorted.

But have I got a story to tell you.

On Sunday, we had a huge trash can of shoes dumped into the center of our room. We were all sorting them into pairs when a woman walked in and asked “well, how are we doing in the shoe department this year?” Okay, we all answered. “Anything I have to have?” she asked. Ah, don’t know, we all answered.

Next out of her mouth, “well, last spring I bought 50 pairs of shoes, I was hoping to find some great deals this time, too.”

Collectively our jaws dropped, and simultaneously we all shouted “50!”

Yep, that’s right. She bought 50 pairs of shoes. That could be construed as over the top, but hey, she probably needed them. Not for me to judge.

My sister turned to me and said, “well, she’s got you beat.”

I’ve been dethroned. I’m no longer the goddess of shoe buying, the torch has been passed.

Whether its 12 or 50 it really doesn’t matter because all of the money, every penny of it, goes to help those less fortunate.

Each sale, the church takes in between $25,000 and $35,000. The money benefits the homeless, sponsors food shelters, battered women shelters, drug and alcohol addiction centers, youth and children’s camps and much more. So, no matter how much or how little you spend, it’s going for a good cause. And that’s reason enough to work and shop the sale.

That’s it for me this week.

Bye.