35th Annual Lincoln Clothing Giveaway a rousing success

While the annual Lincoln Clothing Giveaway has been a success every year, organizer Nadine Yonkovich said they like to think every year is better than the last. And this year may have been the best in its 35-year history, even surpassing last year's donation windfall.

"Last year it seemed like we had more donations than ever before, because the tables were just mounded. But this year I'm saying we got more donations than even last year," said Yonkovich. "It is just amazing the generosity of the Lincoln community. It helps a lot of people."

Ginger Stocks, who helps Yonkovich organize the giveaway, said it also seemed to her that there were more shoppers than last year.

Originally planned as a five-day event - with donations drop offs scheduled for Tuesday Aug. 2 and free shopping from Wednesday through Saturday - things got going a few days early.

"We actually started...on Saturday (July 30) setting up tables, getting the hanging racks from the Garland girls," Yonkovich said. "That's all we planned to do. Then we had gotten some donations from Diane at the Thrift Store, so there were two rows of bags there. Heidi (Vulcan) wanted to get started on them, so we got all of them put out."

Since they were ahead at that point, Yonkovich sent out messages on Facebook asking people to bring their donations on Sunday and Monday, which brought in plenty of bags full of clothes and kept them busy, but at a pace that didn't wear out the volunteers.

They also had people show up to drop off donations, then stick around to help get things organized, sometimes for the entire day.

"It's nice when we see new faces," Yonkovich said, adding they also have a standard core of volunteers they count on who help year after year and know the process.

"Today's sort of our official opening day," Yonkovich said Tuesday morning, as about a dozen people perused the stacks and racks of clothing. "Today's the day people were supposed to be bring donations. And they have been ... and have been ... and have been."

Although last year's giveaway also got off to an early start, this year marked the first time they were open through Saturday, rather than ending things on Thursday. They also sent posters to the post offices in Ovando, Helmville and Augusta in hopes of drawing more from the surrounding area to town.

Lincoln residents took advantage of the giveaway as they do every year, but visitors and people passing on the highway also got in on the act, although they are usually surprised all the clothes come from the Lincoln community and are actually free.

Yonkovich said one fellow passing through saw the signs and stopped. He had seven grandkids and left with an armload of clothes for them.

"That's what we want. That's what this is all about," she said.

By Saturday, the tables still had clothes on them, but it was only a fraction of what had been donated.

"We moved a lot of clothes," Yonkovich said as things wound down Saturday. "The tables were stacked up four to six deep, so we have found new homes for a ton of stuff."

In addition to the uptick in clothing donations, Stocks pointed out that their cash donations, which help cover the cost of the Community Hall, had also nearly doubled.

"It just seems like we've had a lot of people saying, 'thank you for doing this,'" she said. "I really noticed a difference."

The increased appreciation for the giveaway may stem from the fact that, given the current economy, families can pick up some free duds for their young kids as they head back to school and folks on fixed incomes can supplement their wardrobes, all without dipping into their finances for either the clothes or a trip into town.

Ultimately, the main goal of the clothing giveaway is still the same as it was in 1987, when Jesse Sallin and Sylvia Johnson first started it: to help keep good clothes here in Lincoln to benefit local community members, rather than seeing them donated to shops in Helena, Great Falls or Missoula.

"The donations are great, the quality of the clothes are just unbelievable," Yonkovich said.

She said they may try to spread the giveaway out over a full week again next year if they can. "The volunteers don't get as exhausted; we can do a little at a time."

"This schedule really worked well," said Stocks, who added they are hoping to recruit some younger volunteers.