Strathmore United Church hosts annual vintage and treasure sale

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore United Church hosted its annual Vintage and Treasure Sale, April 25-26, with all of the proceeds going towards local charities.

In addition to the vintage and treasure sale occupying the basement of the church, a bake sale and quilting table were also present throughout the course of the event.

Marguerite Watson, a member of the church responsible for hosting the sale, explained the sale was born out of a previous thrift sale, where antiques were not being priced with any value to them.

Instead, she started gathering antiques, collectibles, and other articles which had a degree of value in them, offered a better price to reflect that, and set up her own tables.

“People are bringing in their treasures. They are having to clean out their cupboards, they are having to give up things that they have probably saved their money to buy … and so when they are bringing all this stuff into the thrift sale in boxes, that might look like junk to a lot of the younger people,” said Watson.

As Watson’s sales began to contribute more and more to thrifting events, over time more and more space was required to lay out the items being accumulated.

Items which are not moved during one sale are generally kept safely in storage until the following year’s vintage sale rolls around, to be offered again.

Following COVID-19, as the sales resumed, Watson put the idea out to include a quilt sale and bake sale as part of the overall event as opposed to just having the vintage and treasure sale as a standalone.

“This sale is not about supporting our church. None of this money goes into supporting our church. All of it goes back out into the community. It all goes to the women’s shelter, out into the food bank, it goes everywhere,” said Watson. “We just want to make as much as we possibly can so that we can give it back out to the community.”

In addition to the monetary values of the sale, Watson added another of their goals is simply to find good homes for the items brought to them.

Currently there are no plans to hold a vintage and treasure sale at the church more than once a year, nor are there plans to hold it for longer than as a two-day event. 

For the quilters, Linda Freeman explained the sales are simply to be able to continue affording fabric for the club who meet on Wednesdays.

A more typical practice of the club is to give away the quilts they create, however, material costs still need to be addressed.

Freeman added if anyone wishes to donate fabric to the club, that would also be greatly appreciated. They are seeking cotton-based fabrics that do not stretch, such as flannel.