Leydig Center accepting donations after successful reopening

DIXON – A Dixon business that is a favorite among shoppers looking for a bargain is getting back to normal.

The Leydig Center, a resale shop located at 1107 Warp Road, reopened on a limited basis on Oct. 1, and was open a second day on Thursday. Shoppers were lined up outside the store on both days, in anticipation of the 10 a.m. opening.

Susan Johnson, who is expected to be voted in as the next chairperson of the Leydig Center at the group’s next board meeting on Oct. 21, noted about 250 customers came through the first day. It was a big success.

“We had a meeting after we closed, and all of the departments felt that people were adhering to wearing their masks, and keeping social distance,” Johnson said. “People were very patient in lines, because the lines were long for the [two] cash registers, just because so many people were coming and buying so many things. I would say it was a good first day, with lots of cooperation.”

Volunteers had been prepping for the reopening of the store for months, on “Workday Wednesdays.” One day a week, volunteers sorted through donations and stocked shelves, so the Leydig Center would be ready when its doors opened for customers.

As sales were brisk the past two Thursdays, people who would like to make donations can now do so, from 8 a.m. to noon on Thursdays beginning on Oct. 15. Items to be donated include men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, toys, books, movies, CDs, games, linens, shoes, purses, belts, sportswear, jewelry, medical, holiday items, and household and small appliances (in boxes).

A change from the past is the Leydig Center is asking those who donate to have their items pre-sorted, as opposed to a large box or bag containing items that will be placed all over the store. That will make it easier for volunteers to do their jobs.

“Think about the building itself and the departments that we have,” Johnson said. “When we get a mixed bag of donations, we have to sort that, and that process takes a long time because the departments are so spread out.”

For now, shelves are stocked on Wednesday, in anticipation of Thursday’s 4 hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) of shopping. Those hours could be cut, however, if volunteers are unable to do their jobs efficiently.

“If we cannot keep up with the donations that we accept in one week, then we’re going to have to shut it off the next week so we can catch up with the sorting of stuff and getting it to the departments,” Johnson said. “The cooperation of pre-sorting – and we never asked people to do this before – will help us keep the doors open the following weeks because we’ll be able to process it faster.”

In addition to all of the items already listed, Johnson noted the Leydig Center is accepting donations of gently used furniture.

“Throughout this whole pandemic, we’ve been giving to different organizations that are helping people in our community, such as when someone graduates from the PADS program and wants to furnish an apartment,” Johnson said. “We are asking for gently used items, and not something that would otherwise be thrown to the curb.”

Monetary donations are also being accepted. Some people have donated in the memory of longtime member Gene Lemme, who died on Sept. 20. That money will benefit either the Leydig Center or the Kreider Center, whichever organization it is designated for.

Down the road, Johnson is hopeful the Leydig Center will resume its normal schedule, with shopping on Mondays and Saturdays, in addition to Thursday.

“We’ve just got to get our feet wet first,” Johnson said, “and expand as we go.”