Local woman distributes free clothing from home
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
3 of 3 free articles.
ST. IGNATIUS — There’s a new store in Mission, and its grand opening is just in time for the holidays. And the best part?
Everything’s free.
Two or three times a year, Bernie Lovell gets a visit from Don Cline, president of Portland, Ore.-based First Nation Ministries, an outreach organization that collects and distributes donations of clothes, household items, bedding and “some surprises,” Lovell said. Cline leaves a truckload of donations for Lovell to distribute in the community, and she invites everyone to come shopping at her house.
“People come in and donate, and (Cline) brings it to all the Reservations in the Northwest,” Lovell said.
Boxes upon boxes of clothes in all sizes, coats, sheets, pillows and blankets fill Lovell’s storage shed, and this time, the bounty overflowed into neighbor Lyle Hilfigure’s garage. Lovell, her “right-hand lady” Bea Eder and friend Terrie Canfield have been sorting clothes in the garage since Cline’s visit last week, and Lovell wants everyone to know she’s open for business. She lives at Emerald Street and Second Avenue in St. Ignatius, and said she’s usually home except for a couple of hours on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. And if she’s not going to be home, she’ll make arrangements for a friend to open the “store.”
She emphasized that no one should feel any obligation to pay for the items or make donations — this is a free, no-hassle giveaway.
“If they need it, come get it,” she said. “My main project in life is to help people; we all get down and out sometimes … Most of my clothes come from off (Cline’s) truck; I’m not proud.”
In addition to a wide range of clothes from infant-sized to adult, Lovell said she has lots of winter clothing, some bedding and several child car seats available. Call her at 745-2545 or 544-1904 for more information.
