Catchpenny Offers Great Bargains for a Good Cause

Jan Broders remembers when the closest hospital to Barrington was miles away either in Elgin or Arlington Heights. "It was far to go for a doctor," said Broders.

That was 30 years ago and the start of a grassroots effort among residents in surrounding communities to push for a local hospital. An auxiliary group formed and started thinking of thrifty ways to help fund the construction with the opening of five resale shops.

The Catchpenny, the only remaining shop of the five, opened its doors in a tiny building on Park Avenue in November 1970 and later moved to 118 East Main Street in 1972. Seven years later, Advocate Good Shepherd in Barrington was built and began seeing patients.

 "It really was the first fundraiser for the hospital," said Broders, who admits at first she was unconvinced like many other residents about bringing a hospital to Barrington, but now thinks of it as a "family hospital." Broders' father-in-law, who suffered a stroke, was the first physical therapist patient at Advocate Good Shepherd.  Broders herself is a breast cancer survivor and has had three joint replacements at Good Shepherd.

"I'm so proud of what the community has created," said Broders of the quality medical care at Good Shepherd.

Broders, a retired Barrington seventh grade science teacher, began volunteering with the Auxiliary 15 years ago as a way of showing her appreciation. After coming to a Catchpenny open house about eight years ago, she decided to volunteer in the shop.

 "It's a way of giving back to the community," said Broders who works two days a week managing the store and sorting and pricing donated items.

Barrington resident, Maria, has been shopping at the Catchpenny for the last decade, mainly for clothes for her three growing children. "Shopping second hand has become a way of life for me," said Maria who thinks it teaches children to be resourceful. "I also believe resale is an enormous form of recycling."

Catchpenny sells a wide variety of donated clothes, jewelry, purses, shoes, toys and household items.

 "We really have bargains," said Noreen Lavine who's been volunteering at Catchpenny as long as she can remember. "And we make good money for Good Shepherd."

In the last 30 years, the little thrift store has raised more than $2 million for the hospital.

More than 50 volunteers run the shop, from a 93 year old woman who still comes in once a week, to high school students seeking to complete service hours.  Broders said all the volunteers feel like family.

Alva Thompson has volunteered for the Auxiliary for more than 30 years and works at the Catchpenny one day a week.

"I feel like I'm doing something good for the community," said Thompson. "I like the ladies I work with."

The Catchpenny hosts three open houses a year.  They clean out the old inventory giving it to other area charities such as veteran's groups and bring in fresh items, which has had people lining up down the block for the bargain buys.

Broders said people not only come for the great prices but also a sense of community. "It gives them a place they can give back to the hospital," Broders said.

"It's a place to buy nice things at a reasonable price, but people have a lot of respect for us. I think our pride is in our hospital."

In 2011, the Auxiliary will complete a one million dollar pledge to the hospital's cardiac and emergency room department expansion.  "I'm so proud of the staff and doctors Good Shepherd brings or want to come to this community," Broders said. "And we (Good Shepherd) keep growing."

The Catchpenny's next open house is next Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.