One hot day last June, the mission team at Spencerport United Methodist Church was prepared for their annual rummage sale fundraiser. Items were cleaned, sorted, and priced. Everything was ready and waiting for the Saturday sale. Dean Phelps, stopping by the church to check on the lawn mower, was the first to make an unexpected discovery – 30 boxes of collectible plates had been left outside the garage door. “Wait, check each one before selling them!” was his advice to the team after moving all of the boxes safely inside. Hidden away, the boxes remained out of sight for the rummage sale.
After the commotion and mess of the sale had been cleared away, mission team members began to unpack, list and research the surprise donation: 230 collectible plates dating from 1977 through 1990. Almost all were still in their original boxes, with certificates of authenticity. Translating some of the certificates from Russian, Italian, French, German and Japanese proved to be quite a challenge. Worn out storage boxes revealed perfectly preserved plates from “Gone With the Wind,” “Annie” and “The King and I.” Other series included: Americana Holidays, Children and Pets, Csatari Grandparent, Mother Goose, Sulamith’s Love Song (from Bavaria), Treasured Songs from Childhood, a complete Japanese Floral Calendar set of twelve plates and works by artists Francis Hooke and Donald Zolan. Some of the more unusual plates are crystal, boxed with a pair of white gloves for handling. Two plates are three dimensional, created in Italy from ivory alabaster.
One final challenge remained: how to sell the plates to raise money. The SUMC mission team will be traveling to Kentucky next August to serve at the Red Bird Mission in the Appalachian Mountains, and each member must pay for the accommodations and food provided. After considering an online option, leaders decided instead to first have a sale in the fellowship hall for the local community. On Sunday, December 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. the plates will be sold (along with Christmas baked goods and small gifts). Most of the collectibles will be priced at just $5.
If the mysterious stranger who left this collection at Spencerport United Methodist Church, 32 Amity Street, Spencerport, is reading this article, please know that your gift was greatly appreciated and it will help the mission team to serve those living in poverty in Appalachia.
