With her husband, Harold, Lois Bodeen came to Paxton from Casey, where there was a thrift shop. Lois and Harold, a Methodist minister, went to the local ministerial association and the Paxton Thrift Shop was born.
Tom Borbely provided the first location, located above Overstreet’s across the street from the current location above Hudson Drug & Hallmark Shop. Mrs. Bodeen was the first manager. Without the help of volunteers from near and far, Lois indicated that she could never keep up with all that needed doing.
Volunteers accomplished the thrift shop’s move to its current location in 1983. Andy Hudson donates the space now, but it was previously provided by Carl Hudson Jr. There was additional funding provided by the First National Bank (The Frederick Community Bank), Farmers-Merchants National Bank (Bank of Pontiac) and Beulah Singleton.
There have been many changes in the past years, including transitioning from an all-volunteer staff to paid staff with volunteers assisting as needed. Caroline Helregel of rural Loda is the only living charter board member of the thrift shop.
The goal of the thrift shop is to provide clothing and miscellaneous items to the community at a reasonable price. In addition, the thrift shop has donated cash and assisted with clothing items to local organizations and families.
Some of those organizations the thrift shop have donated to in the past are the Paxton and Loda Lions Clubs, Swedish Heritage Days, Share and Care Center, Paxton Majestic Theatre, Paxton Carnegie Library, Community Resource & Counseling Center, Meals on Wheels, United Community Fund, Alzheimer’s group, Paxton Service Club, Peace Meal program, Paxton Day Care Center, and Loda Senior Citizens.
We have assisted with clothing for those who have had fires, inmates looking for employment and needing appropriate clothing, and luggage for the children at the Cunningham Children’s Home in Urbana. In recent years, we have given to the United Community Fund.
We also have given to two of the local food banks: the PBL Area Community Food Pantry and Hands of Christ Food Pantry.
The current hours of the thrift shop are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.
We have had to reduce the hours due to financial issues at this time so that we can continue to serve the community.
Donations are always accepted whenever the shop is open.
We always want to thank the community and everyone for their continued support and look forward to the coming years.
PRISCILLA CURTIS
Paxton Thrift Shop