Goodfellows of Lee County continues fundraising for new home

DIXON - Goodfellows of Lee County is making progress with its community fundraising campaign for a new home.

The 109-year-old charitable organization looked for a new facility for about 2 years, and 67 properties later, the agency found Lincoln Avenue Church of God at 704 S. Lincoln Ave. in Dixon.

The organization is planning to purchase the building for $150,000, as the church plans to move into a building across from Sauk Valley Community College in January.

Goodfellows President Clara Harris recently presented to the Lee County Board and said they’ve raised around $80,000 so far and continue to reach out to the county, city, organizations and community members to help the cause.

Goodfellows is most known for helping hundreds of families during the holiday season with gifts and food vouchers, but it also gives away furniture, clothing, books and other household items to those in need.

In 2019, the group helped 1,700 people across 235 families, and 992 of them were from Dixon.

The nonprofit also assists with many organizations and events including Shop with a Cop and Shop with a Sheriff, YWCA of the Sauk Valley, Teen Turf, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way of Lee County, Dixon PADS Shelter, Dixon Food Pantry, as well as area schools and churches.

“We’re just trying to put ourselves in a permanent location so we can continue the 109 years that the agency has been out there helping people in need,” Harris said. “We want to continue what we do for the public, and we want this agency to go on long after we’re gone.”

Goodfellows has been hosting raffles to raise funds to secure the building, and the latest raffle drawing will be Wednesday on the riverfront during the city market.

Tickets are $20 each for a chance to win one of four prize packages. First prize includes an overnight stay at the Lincoln Way B&B with a bouquet of flowers and $20 gift shop credit as well as $145 in local gift cards ($545 value).

Second prize is a wicker table with two chairs, oil change from Ken Nelson Auto Group, and $55 in local gift cards ($455 value). Third prize is a gravity chair, wheelbarrow, rake, rooster weathervane shepard’s hook, bocce ball game and $105 in local gift cards ($305 value). Fourth prize is $170 in local gift cards.

Tickets may be purchased by contacting Harris at 815-973-5135, Linda Erisman at 815-535-1689, Marykathryn Stenzel at 815-440-8194 or Janet Bushman at 815-973-3204.

In 2019, Goodfellows moved from its location in the lower level of 113 S. Peoria Ave. and carted 40 truckloads of donations to a temporary home at the Franklin Grove Church of the Brethren, 121 W. North St.

Call 815-973-5135 or go to goodfellowsofleecounty.org for more information or to volunteer for the Goodfellows of Lee County, a 501c3 charitable organization.

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