Ottawa Community Thrift Store opening Friday

Leslie Mulderink had been working at the Salvation Army Thrift Store for eight months when COVID-19 led to its closure earlier this year.

The closing, Mulderink said, left her heartbroken. She is now opening the Ottawa Community Thrift Store, 226 W. Madison St., at 5 p.m. Friday, a business she hopes can be the same beacon of light for the community that the Salvation Army Thrift Store was.

“I loved the community and the compassion, specifically from Major Connie Shaw and Rachelle May,” Mulderink said. “They are lighthouses in this community. They shine a light and help a lot of people. It showed me how I could use a thrift store to help people, protect the community and look out for the community.”

After the Thrift Store closed, Mulderink, with help from other former Salvation Army Thrift Store workers, decided to open the Ottawa Community Thrift Store to fill the hole left in the community by the Salvation Army Thrift Store.

Mulderink has established connections with Safe Journeys and Pathway of Hope to provide discounts in her store to help anyone who is struggling. She’s also helping establish a network with the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living by collecting equipment, such as walkers and wheelchairs for donations for their equipment loan closet.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store, Mulderink said, couldn’t take these items because of liability issues, but by taking them at her store and giving them to the Center for Independent Living, it allows them to be the experts in the matter.

“I personally lost my mobility five years ago, so that’s where this stems from,” Mulderink said. “I was in a bad car wreck and couldn’t walk for a few months, so ever since I regained my mobility, I’ve been so grateful. I know how valuable something so simple is.”

She has also talked to Pet Project in Marseilles: They’re going to be helping with getting flyers to promote the adoption of dogs and cats that are typically difficult to adopt out.

Mulderink is using the business to promote local artists and musicians.

“Everything I’m helping and promoting is from around here,” Mulderink said. “In addition to allowing artists to sell their work out of my shop, I’m going to have musicians probably about once a week, someone playing keyboard or guitar. That will help promote them as well.”

The profits made by the Ottawa Community Thrift Store will be donated to help fund a local cause on a rotating basis, between Safe Journeys, Pathway of Hope, Pet Project and others.

“There’s also a group coming in with hope cards that people can pick up for free and we’ll specifically be a safe space for the LGBTQ community,” Mulderink said. “Aside from all that, I plan on having fair prices so people can get everything they need without spending retail money. That’s what the Salvation Army did.”

Mulderink currently is working with the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation to apply for status as a 501(c)(3) charity organization.

Mulderink said the store so far has been holding drop-off events, but once she has store hours set in stone, she will accept them during store hours. People wishing to donate large pieces of furniture will need to get approval. Email ottawa.community.thrift@gmail.com to contact the store.