New Haven native is UMW church’s communications coordinator

The United Methodist Women of the New Haven United Methodist Church are gearing up for the first of two major rummage sales of the year.

According to communications coordinator Sue Platt, the reception area in the church will be jam packed, as will be the hallways, Wednesday and Thursday, May 3-4, with everything from furniture, strollers, toys, garden tools and glassware to books, records, kitchen utensils, clothing, Christmas and Easter decorations and more. Doors open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

“They’ve been gathering, labeling and pricing items for the sale for two weeks,” said Platt, “The second one is scheduled for Oct. 4-5, and that will be followed by our annual Christmas bazaar Saturday, Dec. 2, featuring homemade crafts by 50 local and area crafters.

“Preparing for these events involves a lot of hard work and takes a lot of time and dedication. The results, however, are well worth it,” she said.

“Proceeds from these three events go to fund our local, state and global mission projects. Locally, we support the New Haven and St. James Lutheran Church food banks and our church’s preschool for families, who otherwise would not be able to send their children to preschool. In addition, we’re responsible for most of the upkeep of the church kitchen.

“Some of our money goes to fund the Lucille Raines Residence in Indianapolis. It cares for adults overcoming alcohol and drug addictions. Globally, we support several missionary programs in third-world countries,” Platt said.

Platt added, “UMW’s purpose states that United Methodist women shall be a community of women whose purpose is to know God and to experience freedom as whole persons through Jesus Christ and also to develop a creative, supportive fellowship and to expand concepts of mission through participation in the church’s global ministries.”

In addition to the funds raised at the rummage sales and annual bazar, each of the 60 members pledges financial gifts to the organization to further enhance their mission’s activity. The membership is divided into two circles that meet the third Tuesday of every month.

Platt has been the organization’s communications coordi- nator for several years.

“Believe me, as time gets closer to one of our three big fundraisers these women get more focused and more driven. It’s a labor of love, and they love doing it. They’re dedicated, they know what has to be done, and they do it,” she said.

Platt added, “The group has been putting on rummage sales and Christmas bazaars here as long as I can remember. I’m a New Haven native, and I grew up in this church, and it’s the only one I’ve ever known. I participated in the youth group, and I was married here. I learned about the United Methodist Women from my mom, June Holt, who became a member in 1955.”

According to Platt, the organization was not always referred to as the United Methodist Women. In 1889, the church was then the New Haven Episcopal Church and the women’s group was known as the Ladies Aid Society.

In 1955, NHUNC moved into its new building on Lincoln Highway East in New Haven. In 1974, the group name changed to United

Methodist Women. Just recently, it was changed again in 2021 to United Women of Faith.