Dear Sacred Heart Parishioners,
                It’s been said in the past, that “It Takes a Village” to accomplish great things.  In the case of the recent Elphie Sale, it took a PARISH to make the 2020 a surprising success in spite of COVID.  In early July, an Elphie Committee approached Father John with proposals involving a different date and safety protocols.  He supported all of the suggestions, and we proceeded with the plans. The Church staff, including Carolyn Gale, Deacon Guy, Nancy Paulson, Mary Round, Jeanne Ryan, Anna Sinisi, and Larry Harris, our maintenance staff, accommodated our many requests for help without hesitation. Thanks too, to Father Javier for providing assistance from the San Juan Community. 
                As we have done for the last four years, we accepted furniture. It was a Herculean task this year because of the amount of donated items. Special thanks to Sue and Bobby Williamson who took charge of this endeavor over many months and their faithful “crew” of Dennis Riley, Mike Siedler, Bobby McBride, Ed Gordon, Angie and Matt Daykin and Regina and Joe Scotchie.  Three storage bins and the garages of Joan Barrett, Mary Byrne, Helen Walsh and Diane Zalewski soon filled up. On August 23, “all hands were on deck” including: Greg Hyatt, Mr. Murphy and Sons, Glen Gobeli, Mike Costleigh (thanks for the rented truck Mike), Janet and Bob Duffy, Dave Navaratil, Rod Stone, Mary Hopp, Dave Niedermaier, Jim Schlund, Eileen Duncan, Mark Evans and sons, Greg Brock, Stu Heilman, Edith Kaylor, Dustin Murphy and sons, and John Paulson who emptied and deposited the “stuff” to Founders Hall. Thanks to those additional “hands” who received the furniture including Lea Brown, the Canfield Family (Brian, Katy, Eric and April), the Chadwick Family, Bernie Dalisay, Mark Evans and Sons, Carolyn Gale, Keith Habenstein, Terry Lurtz, Terry and Sue Lambert, Joe Ptaszek, Red Sheridan, Aileen Ung and daughter, Satya, Amber Waller, Helen Walsh, Wendy Stovold, and new parishioner, Diane Zeitler. As the months evolved and volunteers came forward, it became apparent that many parishioners regardless of the virus valued the Elphie Sale and contributed in some way.  Many of our Elphie friends decided against helping at the sale, but prayed for its success.  So many of you answered our call and donated items, which became the basis for its success.  Others helped in specific areas.  Anne Gerwig publicized the sale for two months prior in our Church bulletin and other publications. Louise Kennedy in lieu of the cancelled Raffle took the helm assigning volunteers at the Admissions desk, the Silent Auction and the 50/50 Raffle. The first people customers encountered were the friendly faces of Nancy Butler, Sue Lambert, Ann Leonard, Dyann Romay, Mary Schneider, Alice Schlund and “newbies” Kelly and Joe Shea, and Antoinette and Dan Weirich who in addition to greeting folks with a smile had masks ready for anyone without one.  Also at the entrance were Sue Brown, Joanne Conrad, Bunny Cross, Mary Margaret Durning, Ann Kastl, Joan Rhoads, Tina Viscuso, Wendy Stovold, and Diane Zalewski convincing customers to buy 50/50 tickets.  Rounding out the volunteers at the door, were the security people who took temperatures of every visitor to Elphie. Thanks to Lou DiStefano, Frank Evers, Deanna Makovitch, Dennis Riley, John Viscuso and Dan Weirich who performed their duties with a friendly and welcoming spirit. The Silent Auction part of the sale was a huge success due to so many wonderful gifts donated by:  Lea Brown, Jane Casnellie, Richard Cason, Pinkie Castanien, Judy Connolly, Bunny Cross, Carole Frisch, Karen Habenstein, Fred Healy, Nancy Heilman, Courtney Herndon, Lin Hutaff, Louise Kennedy, Jeanne Knauer, Linda Kreitz, Pam Leary, Christine Leo, Jane Pangello, Denise Price, Jeannette Sheehan, Lynn Shively, Gil and Carol Valdez, and Tina Viscuso.  Volunteers who helped support the auction were Mary Byrne, Barbara Duggan, Dolly Canonico, Judy Connolly, Bunny Cross, Barbara Duggan, Regina Ferrante, Marie Hartsell, Janell Meyers, Nancy and Bob Nielsen, Paula Rogers, and Mary Lou Sutter. Jewelry Guru, Haydee Coppola, who with her jewel-smiths, Carole Alfieri, Annette Carolyon, Phuong Drouin, Sharon King, Joan Matula, and Missy Myer collected, cleaned and sold hundreds of pieces of jewelry. The long lines at their station attested to their hard work. Ray Waller, not a parishioner but a good friend, took over the Electronics section and with Jim Ferrante and Bob Hall’s help presented an interesting display of different items.  Bob and Janet Duffy, Tina Viscuso and Rosemary Weber very ably shared the Toy Department.  Petie Graeter spent many hours organizing and pricing the special section of china, silver and crystal. Rosa Sheyett, Carol Reasor and Vera Pelekoudas contributed in keeping order and attracting many customers to that section. Pat Ironside and Jeanne Knauer expertly stuffed the Linens Room.  Pam Leary took over the Art Department with her reliable assistants Deb Brayton and Letty Kesnowski with a creative flair. With the retirement of our own special Christmas Elf, Pat MacMillan, Denise Donnelly willingly and diligently took over the Christmas Room with the able assistance of Sue Ferretti and newcomer, Karen Beckerman.  Together they created an inviting Christmas wonderland worthy of a Macy’s display. Joe and Regina Scotchie’s  “staged” furniture and rugs display in the lower half of Founders Hall was a big and very profitable section of the sale.  Due to the overload of donations and for enhanced safety protocols, several sections of housewares were moved outside. Thanks to donations of tents by several parishioners, the blazing sun was abated to a degree.  Despite the heat, Eileen Duncan organized and priced hundreds of items with the steadfast help of Julie Riley and Denise Zeitler.  Inside the hall, Ann Hall, Jane Pangello, Mary Przybycein, Mary Cestone, and Gil and Carol Valdez once again sat for three days pricing items from big to small and curious to precious. Special thanks to Regina Birdsell, Alice Boulware, Dolly Canonico, Deacon Greg Cross, Lethe D’Apolito, Alice Evans, Kerry Ettrich, Natalie Francis, Lola Garbarina, Rebecca Jandresevits, Sandy LaComb, Leticia Rentaria, Mary Ann Rowe, Amber Waller and Anne Westbrook who cashiered, wrapped and bagged items for the hundreds of happy customers.  Meanwhile, Mary Hopp, Ann Sciarinno, Bob and Janet Varro, and Sue Williamson kept track of all of the sales.
                Our Knights of Columbus were grand throughout the sale. These dedicated men helped with outside sales and security. Under the consistent and faithful leadership of Dan Conrad, Pete White, and Frank Pacifico, the outside sales department was, once again, a moneymaker. Thanks to: Lou Bologna, Joseph Chavez, Wayne Crawford, Sam Dominic, Ray Druss, Brian Ettrich,  Joe Harenski, Carl Knauer, Keith LaComb, Fred Leonow, Eric Marella, Dave Navaratil, Dave Niedermaier, Lew Nuzzie, John Pantaleo, Rob Papp, and Bob Varro, for setting up tents and organizing sports and outdoor furniture, among other things. Also and under the watchful eye of Security leader Tom Ross, Bob Hall, and Lou Ferretti performed their duties with good will toward the customers.
                If you helped the Elphie Sale by donating, moving, collecting, arranging, displaying and pricing thousands of items THANK YOU! In addition to the aforementioned parishioners, thanks to: Sherry Bailey, Elaine Bologna, Maggie Chadwick, Sally Conlon, Jane Diefendorf, Regina Ferrante, Beth Foster, Mary Frimml, Micki Henry, Claudette Jovilet, Estelle Menke, Carol Meyer, Mary Lou Roche, Camilla Rothwell, Ginny Siedler, Rita Ticzon, Mary Beth Thomas, Jayne and Mike Walker, Mike Wall, Joan Ward, Marge White and Mary White. Many of the aforementioned friends of Elphie showed up daily to do various jobs or supported the sale by making terrific suggestions or just by being a constant presence. On Saturday, the left overs were packed into the Habitat truck, also a Herculean task. Knights helped in this effort as well as Bobby McBride, Brian and Kerry Ettrich and the Klotz Family (Frances, Jeff, Emma and Fuller). An extra special thank you to Denise Price for entertaining the customers and volunteers at the Sneak Peek event on Thursday with her beautiful piano music.  And to Lea Brown for procuring all of the items which kept the customers and volunteers safe and well sanitized. Finally, I’d like to especially thank my husband, Stu, for being the continuously supportive husband to me these past four years.
                Many parishioners have questions about the results of the sale.  The Women of Sacred Heart determine how the money is distributed. Approximately 80% of the income from the sale goes to the organizations and charities of our parish such as school scholarships to our mission in Uganda, Sacred Heart Pre-School Scholarships, scholarships to Sandhills Community College for eligible students from San Juan Diego Church, San Juan Diego summer camp, student scholarships to the St. John Paul School, the St. John Paul School annual fund, Capodanno High School, and our Faith Formation Programs. In addition monies are donated to the following charities/organizations in Moore County: ARC of Moore County, Boys and Girls Club, The Coalition, Family Promise, First Health Hospice, Friend to Friend, Life Care Pregnancy Center, Literacy Council, Military Mission, Moore Free Clinic, N. Moore Resource Center, Prancing Horse, and the Sandhills Children’s Center. All left over items and furniture is donated to Habitat.         So what is the meaning of the Elfie Sale?  For the volunteers, it meant hard work, but it also meant renewing friendships, sharing stories, and helping others in a kind and humorous way.  For some parishioners, it meant cleaning out closets and donating favorite items, which were no longer used. Some parishioners donated their time or talent to the Silent Auction. For the public, it meant good buys at great prices. For me, it was a constant learning experience. I learned that husbands and wives are a team at home and at Sacred Heart.  I learned that camaraderie and a belief in the goodness of our fellow parishioners can raise money as well as spirits.  I learned that being among so many Sacred “Hearters” was a privilege and an honor.  SO THANKS TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS.  God bless us all and see you in 2021!

 Nancy S. Heilman, Chair 2020 Elphie Sale