Local Mom runs Rhea Lana’s Children’s Consignment events to help other families in area
Christine DeGraf is a mom who is really committed to helping families just like hers in the local community. After starting a new family in 2009, she decided she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and care for her daughter. She knew this meant sacrificing her income, which also meant figuring out how to cut spending and re-thinking her family’s budget.
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After assessing the situation, Christine realized that she could cut costs by bargain shopping for everyday needs such as clothes and food. But children’s clothes were a challenge—they grew so fast! After visiting her in-laws in Arkansas, her mother-in-law Heidi mentioned a Rhea Lana's children’s consignment sale going on in the area. They decided to check it out and were amazed at the quality of the gently used clothes at completely affordable prices. They also had aisles and aisles of toys, baby equipment—even maternity items!
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Christine grew up in Lombard and knew there was nothing available like this in the western suburbs. She really loved the idea of helping families find adorable merchandise at great prices and wanted to duplicate it. Christine thought, “Moms could come together to volunteer, shop and connect with each other during each sale.” The seed had been planted—Christine couldn’t wait to start!
Christine and Heidi teamed up to bring Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland to life. She says working with her mother-in-law has been a joy. They complement each other well and believe in their mission to clothe and connect with all kinds of families throughout the community. The whole DeGraf family loves to get in on the act—both Heidi and Christine’s husbands too!
The Rhea Lana's sales events are held in the Spring and Fall and can really provide opportunities for all—the events allow families to recycle their own gently used clothes and toys by transferring ownership from one family to another and keeping thousands of items out of our landfills. It also allows consignors to make their own money (as well as donate their unsold items). If one chooses to volunteer for the event, they have a special opportunity to have early access to the sale. And of course because you can find so many fabulous deals, many families can buy special items (like Christmas gifts and bigger items) they may not normally be able to afford.
The mission of Rhea Lana's also includes the opportunity to work hand in hand with local charities by donating thousands of items after each sale. Currently Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland benefits Easter Seals of the DuPage and Fox Valley Region, Family Shelter Services of DuPage and CareNet. Another way that the company gives back is by contributing a portion of its sales of the Rhea Lana’s Friends and Family Cookbooks to Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization.
Christine and Heidi are thrilled to provide an event that resonates in this tough economic climate. As they like to say, “We are moms who love helping moms!”
Spring Event dates:
April 15 9am-6pm
April 16 10am-9pm
April 17 10am-4pm
April 18 10am-9pm (1/2 price sale)
April 19 10am-4pm (1/2 price sale)
Admission is FREE!
Location:
218 W Roosevelt Rd
Villa Park, IL
In the Villa Oaks Shopping Center next to Tuesday Morning
If you’d like to be a volunteer or become a consignor yourself—it’s easy! Everything can be done online through an automated system. You can even track your consignment sales in real time either online on the website or through your smartphone via www.mobile.rhealana.com. To Volunteer, become a consignor or find more information on Rhea Lana, go to http://www.wchicagoland.rhealana.com/
Early Shopping Schedule for Volunteers and Moms-to-Be:
April 14 2pm-10pm Early Worker’s Pre-Sale
April 14 3pm-10pm Worker’s Pre-Sale
April 14 4pm-10pm Moms-to-Be Pre-Sale (Be our guest—print pass at home! No strollers or children at this pre-sale, please.)
April 14 6pm-10pm Guest Pre-Sale (Must bring pass, may bring 1 guest. No strollers or children at this pre-sale, please.)
April 17 5pm-9pm Worker’s 1/2 price sale (All workers shop now. Must bring pass.)
To join the Mailing List:
http://wchicagoland.rhealana.com/
Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland Contact: Christine 630.728.5255
