Community Treasures, the thrift shop owned by Galesburg Community Foundation, provides a full circle approach to philanthropy. Generous community members donate gently used items, which can then be purchased. Any revenue earned through purchases at the store go directly into the Community Impact Fund that supports nonprofit organizations and community initiatives serving our region. The shop is also supported by community volunteers who do everything from processing donations to cashiering.

Samantha (Sam) Smith, manager at Community Treasures said, “I used to shop here and I quickly found that the quality of products is great. The items are cared for, unique and interesting. It was always one of my favorite places to thrift. It was nice to find a place with good people, vintage clothing, antiques, housewares—all things that I love. When the manager position opened up, I thought why not work in a place surrounded by things that I love. Plus, once I learned more about Galesburg Community Foundation, their mission and how Community Treasures was connected to them, I was even more excited. I wanted to be a part of a place where we bolstered the community from the inside out.”

Sam was born in Texas, raised in Oklahoma and spent some time in Chicago, which is how she discovered she liked the vibe she felt while in the Midwest. When it came time for college she decided to attend Knox College. Thanks to a class she took at Knox, she had to become involved with a local business, so she started working at Baked, which gave her insight into the town and the people. She said, “I quickly learned that a lot of people here really care and are working to make the area the best that it can be. The area is full of spirit and that drew me to stay here. I feel at home.”

For Sam, that feeling of home is another reason she enjoys her role at Community Treasures. “I know that when I come to work each day I’m helping our community. We also have a lot of regular shoppers and I love regulars because you become a part of each other’s lives. That’s the same with our volunteers too. We have so many volunteers who have committed themselves to our mission—some for decades—and they are wonderful to work with.”

Volunteers are one of the most unique and special components to Community Treasures as they ensure every donated item is cared for. Volunteers are a critical part of the process and do everything from sorting, laundering, mending, spot cleaning, pricing and running the cash register. Plus, they make sure that every donated item is cared for to ensure quality items are sold.

Sam said, “That’s another thing I love about Community Treasures. The items donated to us meant something to one of our community members. When they donate, we remember that and treat the items with care. This too allows all of our shoppers the opportunity to purchase quality items—because that’s what everyone deserves—no matter your income.”

The variety of items for sale is always changing at Community Treasures, so you never know what you may find. “No matter what your style or taste you can probably find something you didn’t know you needed here. The items donated to us are pretty remarkable and we take great pride in knowing that someone trusted us to help their items find a new home. Plus, when you purchase these items you’re helping your community. Community Treasures is a hub for person to person philanthropy and to make our community even better,” Sam said.

Community Treasures Thrift Shop, located at 444 E Main Street in Downtown Galesburg, is currently open Tuesday- Friday from 10:00- 4:00. To donate or learn more about volunteer opportunities please call the Shop at 309.342.9018 to schedule an appointment.

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For Ryan Maloney, life is all about connection. It’s something he knows well as he leads a life abundant with volunteerism and generosity, which brings him much joy—and a community of like-minded people.

“You never know what connections you will make when you’re out there volunteering,” said Ryan, a fundholder at the Galesburg Community Foundation. He also serves as a volunteer at the Community Foundation’s Community Treasures Thrift Store and has been active in the community for years.

Ryan grew up in the Galesburg community with cerebral palsy, and when he returned home after 3 years at a specialized school in Chicago, he struggled to transition back to a place that had changed during the time he was away. “I was feeling lost at the time,” he said. “Many of my friends and the people I’d grown up with were gone. It was hard.”

He thought volunteering would give him a different direction and purpose, and Community Treasures took a chance on him. “The staff at Community Treasures is so accommodating,” he said. “They have helped me out so much professionally and personally.”

The work at the thrift store kicked off a desire to do more—to help more. “Volunteering has filled so much for me and allowed me to get other volunteer opportunities,” he said. “I’m proud of this.”

Ryan hopes his impact on the region through Community Treasures inspires others to step outside their comfort zone and find a place to give, either of their time or money. Through social media, he’s on a mission to educate. He has worked to connect people with volunteer opportunities, introduce staff from fellow organizations to each other, and to help other people understand what Galesburg Community Foundation does. “The opportunities to support our community are out there. You may have challenges, but anyone can work or volunteer, even if you have a disability,” he said.

That is one of the reasons Ryan participates in Rainbow Riders Therapeutic Horseback Riding, an organization supported by the Community Foundation. Foundation staff introduced him to the program in 2013 and encouraged him to try it out. “It’s helped my muscles and body get better and stronger,” he said. “I was nervous to start, but it’s been great. I have grown so much. It was new to me, and I am proud of overcoming my fear.”

Rainbow Riders was on the list when Ryan recently celebrated his 30th birthday and marked it by making gifts to local organizations, including the Stone Hayes Center for Independent Living, and the Knox County YMCA through the Ryan J. Maloney Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation. Giving is all about creating ripples of positive change throughout the community, Ryan said. “I like to give back to a community that has given so much support to my family and me. I hope people see that there are so many opportunities to give and so much to love about this community.”

“I hope people see that there are so many opportunities to give and so much to love about this community.”

The post FINDING CONNECTION & JOY IN GIVING appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

Her devotion to the hobby is for a good cause. Jodie is currently knitting her 3,507 hat for children with cancer in five different hospitals. Her goal is to knit 10,000.

Jodie oftentimes finds her yarn at Community Treasures, the thrift shop owned by Galesburg Community Foundation, that provides a full circle approach to philanthropy. Generous community members donate gently used items, such as yarn, which can then be purchased. Any revenue earned through purchases at the store go directly into the Community Impact Fund that supports nonprofit organizations and community initiatives serving our region. The shop is also supported by community volunteers who do everything from processing the donations to cashiering.

For Jodie, the thrift store is the perfect place to donate and shop, something she has been doing for 10 years. “It’s clean and it’s nice,” she says. “Their items are high-quality and everyone is always friendly.”

And that’s good to hear, because Jodie admits she’s picky about her yarn. “It has to be clean and smell good. Those kids have enough problems,” she says, and there’s no way she’s making them a hat with yarn that doesn’t meet the highest standards.

In addition to hats that support kids in our region, Jodie sends the hats to hospitals as far as Atlanta and Omaha, where nurses and family members help the young patients pick their favorite. She’s knit everything from dogs and cats to ghosts and witches and elves, covering the Halloween, Christmas and summer holidays hundreds of times over. One boy, she was told, received one of her hats that rolled down into a mask. He hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for four days and was rarely out of his hospital bed. It was a surprise to the nurses when they found him playing one day, hiding in his room and wearing the mask.

“That made me feel so good,” she says.

Every once in a while, she’ll get a thank you, though she never expects one. “Their parents have enough going on, they don’t need to worry about that gesture,” she says. “But when I do get one, it really touches my heart.”

Knitting hats, and shopping at the thrift store, are the ways Jodie says she can give back for the blessings in her life. And basic human kindness, she adds, has a trickle-down effect that can change entire communities forever. She saw that exemplified in her stepfather, Charlie Patterson, who her mother married when Jodie was in high school. He demonstrated kindness and love to not only her but everyone in their family and community. “He was the type of person that, if you asked for the shirt off his back, he would give it to you right then and not ask why,” she recalls.

He passed away from cancer several years ago and the hats she knits now include a tag that reads, “For the love of Charlie.”

“He was a wonderful man,” she says. “When my mom married Charlie, everything changed. He came into our lives when we needed him most. I owe him a lot and this is one way I can keep his name alive.”

She pauses. “It’s one way I can support other people.”

Jodie is an incredible testament to the impact that generosity can have. Let’s talk about how we can help you spread your generosity in the community you love. If you have a dream for your hometown, we’re here to help you do that easily through your giving. Contact us at JGibb@YourGCF.org today, or give us a call at 309.344.8898.

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