Goodfellows giving away clothing, household items

DIXON – Goodfellows of Lee County, a charitable organization that last year helped around 1,700 people during the holidays, is on the move, and could use a little help itself.

Goodfellows is moving from its spot in the lower level at 113 S. Peoria Ave., and so has a basement full of goods, including new toys, clothing and household items, that its volunteer staff doesn’t want to pack up and haul away.

To that end, they will be giving those goods away to anyone who shows up, no questions asked, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday next week; enter through the west parking lot off of Highland Avenue, through the overhead door, and bring your own bags and boxes.

While the nonprofit United Way agency searches for new digs, it will not be accepting donated goods, but monetary donations still are needed.

Checks made out to Goodfellows of Lee County can be mailed to P.O. Box 674, Dixon, IL 61021.

Once it has a new space, Goodfellows will resume accepting goods, and will be taking applications for holiday assistance as usual from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31.

Also, anyone who has a large space to donate, or available at a low rent, is asked to call Goodfellows President Clara Harris at 815-973-5135.

The bulk of its clients live in Dixon, so space there is preferred, but “I’m open to whatever is available,” Harris said.

Most importantly, the Goodfellows mission will continue, she said.

“Any seeds we can plant to make life better is always a plus.”