ANTIOCH, Ill. (CBS) – A non-profit organization in Antioquia is hosting a giving event this weekend to help families in need.
Founded in 2014, Antioch Traveling Closet has been providing families with essential items such as clothing, toiletries and school supplies for years.
Founder Lisa Fisher said she started the nonprofit after talking to a friend who worked in the school district and told her about a girl she knew whose family was facing financial hardship.
“Her family was really struggling and it hit me really hard. So when I was buying things for my daughter, I was also buying things for this little girl and giving them to my friend,” Fisher said.
“This went on for several years. And when there was Christmas break, Thanksgiving break, or extended breaks, I made sure there were boxes of juice and cheese and crackers, something the kid could easily open. And probably two or three years later. my girlfriend had told me that the girl moved out and it bothered me. I thought if I could help one kid, I think we could help more.”
After sharing her idea with friends who were also mothers, they donated their children’s clothes.
In 2014, the nonprofit held its first raffle with only children’s clothing.
“We had 35 people come and we had two hairdressers and we thought it was the best,” Fisher said.
The organization is now in its eighth year and hosts three giveaways a year where families can choose clothing and other essentials such as toiletries, cleaning supplies and receive haircuts.
The non-profit organization receives no government aid, but community support helps sustain its mission.
“It takes a town and I’m glad Antioquia is my town because the amount of support I’ve gotten from the community, the schools would donate to me and there are some businesses.”
No paperwork is required for giveaways, but visitors are encouraged to take what they need, not what they want.
The giveaways usually take place on Sundays, but will be held for the first time on Saturday because they want to make winter coats available to visitors.
The Winter Wear Giveaway event will take place from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Antioch Senior Center, located at 817 Holbeck Drive.
More information, including how to donate to the Traveling Closet, can be found at antiochtravelingcloset.org.
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