Resale Shop Celebrates 50 Years of Service

A long history of caring volunteers has helped the Wise Penny Resale and Consignment Shop reach a monumental milestone.

For 50 years, the store has supported Central DuPage Hospital’s women’s auxiliary.

Nancy Stascny, the manager of the store, said that the store is entirely run by volunteers.

“It started on the grounds of Central DuPage Hospital by a group of ladies,” Stascny said. “It moved from the hospital to downtown Glen Ellyn. We had women from West Chicago who covered it one day, women from Winfield and Wheaton, and from all different areas. Each of them took a day to manage the store.”

The store's proceeds helps the women’s auxiliary's efforts to raise funds to support different programs at the hospital.

“We support Dr. Tom Cornwallis, a home physician,” Stascny said. “He is one of four home physicians in Illinois. He has a van fully equipped to do EKGs and chest x-rays, and he takes care of homebound patients and people who cannot afford medical care.”

In the past, the shop has helped the auxiliary with a $1 million pledge to a local cancer center and given scholarships to DuPage County students who are entering the medical field. This year, the shop is working with the auxiliary on a $1 million pledge that will benefit the neuroscience department of the hospital.

Shopping at the resale shop can be an adventure, where shoppers can find the unexpected.

“We have a wonderful jewelry department, where we get 14 karat gold, diamonds and emeralds,” Stascny said.

“We receive a lot of really neat jewelry. We receive great furniture: chairs, amps, benches, and dressers. We also have a lot of customers ... who become our friends and volunteers.”

All college students shopping for their first apartment or dorm room get 20 percent off of furniture purchases.

The shop does not turn away any donated item.

“What we cannot use, we have outlets for, whether that is homeless veterans, inner city schools, churches or abuse shelters,” Stacsny said. “We don’t waste anything that comes in the store because there is always someone that needs it.”

Stacsny said she enjoys her work because it benefits the hospital.

“I think of all the good they do and how many people they help,” Stacsny said.

The shop, 122 N. Main St., Wheaton, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Donations are accepted until 3 p.m. For more information, call 630-665-8686.