Welcome to the ATC 

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January Giveaway at the New ATC Home a Success

(January 24, 2024) The first ATC giveaway in our new home was a success. We were able to help approximately 90 families from Antioch, Lake Villa, and Lindenhurst at the January 20 event.

After nearly a decade of holding events at the Antioch Senior Center, the ATC’s new base, located in Depot Plaza, 311 Depot St. (at the Antioch Metra station), will afford us the opportunity to hold mini-giveaway events every four to six weeks, in addition to the three major giveaways held annually. While anyone is welcome to attend these major events, the smaller events might be limited to Antioch, Lake Villa and Lindenhurst residents.

The new site also allows us to leave items permanently displayed, which was not possible at the Senior Center.

Below are a few photos of the Antioch Traveling Closet’s new home.

The new home of the Antioch Traveling Closet, located at the Metra Station’s Depot Plaza, 311 Depot St., in Antioch, Illinois.

The ATC Brain Trust poses at the organization’s new home located in Depot Plaza, 311 Depot St., in Antioch. Left to right, Heather Lewis, Cory Bowles, and ATC founder Lisa Fisher.

Some of the many generous ATC volunteers before the January 20 Giveaway.

ATC January 20 Giveaway Event Announced at New Location!

A Christmas ‘Thank You’ From Lisa Fisher

(January 10, 2024) Yesterday is probably our most favorite day of the year. We got to make Christmas a little brighter for families in District 34, District 117, Emmons and Grass Lake Schools with an invite-only giveaway. This year we were able to help 135 children with Christmas with help from Antioch Eye Associates, Ellen Ipsen Insurance, Fischer Paper Products, Good Family Tattoo, Merle Norman, Oakland School and Scott and Sheryl Pierce.

The left over toys were bagged up with hat and gloves and given to a Waukegan Police Officer who will deliver them to the shelters.

We were able to put this together with help from our very hard working volunteers and husbands that are VOLUNTOLD. Thank you to everyone that helped make this a success this year. A few parents started to cry, and SO many said Thank you, Bless you, and you have no idea how much this helps! — Lisa Fisher (December 17, 2023)

Help Our Vets Help the ATC on Friday, November 24

(November 7, 2023) You’ll have a chance to work off some of that extra stuffing and pumpkin pie you ate on Thanksgiving playing cornhole at the Antioch VFW, 75 North Ave., on Friday, November 24.

Our vets will be holding a fundraiser for the Antioch Traveling Closet that will feature cash prizes along with food, drink, and live music. The doors will open at 6:00pm.

Let’s support out vets and help the area’s needy at the same time!

ATC’s Winter-Wear Giveaway Event is Set for Sunday, November 5

(October 27, 2023) The Antioch Traveling Closet is announcing its annual Winter Giveaway event, scheduled from 8:30am to 11:30am on Sunday, November 5. The venue will once again be the Antioch Senior Center located at 817 Holbek Dr., near the main fire station.

Please remember to take for yourself items that you and your family need and not what you simply want. If you leave the building but decide to go inside again, you MUST wait in line once again. Anyone caught line-jumping or cutting in line ahead of others will be asked to leave immediately. Tickets for toiletries are handed out before you enter the hall. If you lose your tickets you will not be able to get any replacements. Be aware of the weather on the day of the event, as the doors will not open until 8:30am.

Please remember that all ATC workers are there to assist you and they are all *volunteers*. Please treat them with the respect they deserve.

Do not bring any bags; they will be supplied at the event.

Please share this notice with your friends and family! We hope to see you at the ATC Winter Giveaway Event! And don’t forget the time change back to Central Standard time takes place on Sunday, November 5, as well!

ATC Fundraiser Announced

(October 27, 2023)

Let’s All Vote for ACHS Football Star Nelson Day–NOW!

(October 11, 2023) ACHS football star Nicholas Day has been nominated for SBLive’s Illinois High School Athlete of the Week! In a 62-34 win against Grant, the senior scored six touchdowns and rushed for 147 yards on 24 carries.

Let’s help Nicholas carry the ball over the goal line by clicking the link, going to the SBLive website, and casting vote for him!

In addition to being a star athlete, Nicholas is also a great human being. He’s been an ATC volunteer for the past eight years!

Cast your vote for Nicholas today!

This Year’s Back-to-School Giveaway Is Sunday, August 13

(July 31, 2023) It’s that time of year again! The Antioch Traveling Closet is announcing the annual Back-to-School Giveaway will be held on Sunday, August 13 from 8:30am to 11:30am! The sight of the event will once again be the Antioch Senior Center, 817 Holbek Dr. (at Depot St.).

The above event poster has the details of event rules, requirements, and restrictions. You can click here to download a pdf copy of the flyer. Please note that only ATC bags will be allowed. The ATC bags will be provided to attendees who do not have one.

We hope to see you there!

The ATC at the Antioch Independence Day Parade

(July 9, 2023) Here are a few photos of the many volunteers who took part in the Independence Day parade and festival in Antioch on July 4, 2023.

The Antioch Traveling Closet float, armed with over 16,000 suckers, created a lot of young smiling faces along Main St. during the Independence Day parade.

A row of ATC volunteers helped us make our participation another success. As always, because of the help we receive from these wonderful people, reaching our goal of helping the area’s needy becomes a much easier task. We offer them out sincerest thanks.

We also thank the village of Antioch for allowing the ATC to work the beer tent at the 93XRT Decades Concert. We got to meet many new people we hope to work with again in the future.

An ATC Shoutout Goes to Aldi and Walmart For Their Support

(July 8, 2023) We’d like to extend our sincerest thanks to the Antioch Aldi for their generous cash donation and to Walmart Supercenter for their clothing donation. We can assure you that both will go a long way in helping the ATC achieve its goal of making everyday life a little better for area residents in need.

No Matter How You Slice It, We’re Thinking “Back to School”!

(July 6, 2023) The ATC is teaming up with the Antioch Pizza Shop to collect school supplies for our annual Back to School Giveaway later this year. Donate and you have a chance to win a $100 gift certificate! The details are shown in the below poster. Time’s running out so think about donating today!

Old National Bank Has Counted The Votes and the ATC Wins!

(May 22, 2023) A few weeks ago we asked visitors to our website to vote for the Antioch Traveling Closet in Old National Bank’s charity award competition–every day. Each bank branch was able to donate $5,000 to the charity closest to them.

The results are in and the Old National Bank branch in Round Lake Beach presented Lisa Fisher with a $5,000 check for the ATC because we had over 2000 votes–the most in their area!

In Lisa’s words, “Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for voting everyday!”

UPDATE: The 2023 Limerick Lounge Golf Event Announced

(May 21, 2023) UPDATE: Are you interested in being a hole sponsor and donating something to our live auction or as a raffle prize?

If so, please have donations or hole sponsorships turned in by 6/10/23. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Fisher at lisafisher624@icloud.com.

Thank you for wanting to help us, help others!

The Limerick Lounge, 912 Toft Ave., in Antioch is looking for area businesses and organizations to donate cash, gift certificates, goods, and/or services to be used for the raffle at their 2023 golf event, scheduled for Friday, June 23. The Antioch Traveling Closet will be the beneficiary of this year’s charity outing.

The event will be held at the Spring Valley Country Club in Salem, Wisconsin.

Click here to download the pdf letting you know more about becoming a contributing donor or sponsor. The ATC is a 501(c)(3) organization.

To sign up your group to play in the 2023 event, click here for the pdf event registration form.

ATC Announces the 2023 Spring Giveaway Event on April 30

(April 11, 2023) The Antioch Traveling Closet is announcing its Spring Giveaway event from 8:30am to 11:30am on Sunday, April 30. The venue will once again be the Antioch Senior Center located at 817 Holbek Dr., near the main fire station.

Please do not bring any bags; they will be supplied at the event.

Please share this notice with your friends and family! We hope to see you there!

Cast Your Vote for the ATC (Before March 31)!

(March 17,2023) Help the Antioch Traveling Closet win up to $15,000 from Old National Bank! Old National is donating $500,000 to community nonprofits in Illinois, Iowa, Northwest Indiana and select areas of Southeast Wisconsin. Use the above link below to vote once a day thru March 31!

Cast your vote for the ATC!

The ATC is the Beneficiary of Springtime Support

(March 4, 2023) The ATC has been enjoying some welcomed pre-springtime support in recent days, for which we are most grateful.

Lisa Fisher was a guest speaker at the SBB Research Group Foundation where she spoke to their employees about the ATC and the many ways in which we help our community.

The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is also committed to contributing to the community. The Foundation was established to further the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC, a Chicago-based investment management firm. To date, the Foundation has supported over 63 charitable organizations serving critical areas such as human services and education. The SBB Research Group also made a kind donation to the ATC.

We also want to thank the Antioch Walmart Supercenter at Rt. 173 and Deep Lake Rd. and the Johnsburg Walmart Supercenter at 3801 Running Brook Farm Blvd. for their generous donations.

We can’t forget the Cherokee Elementary School in Lake Forest for their change collection efforts which raised close to $1,000 for the ATC. We are very grateful!

And last but not least, a tip of the ATC hat goes once again to Bombas for making 20,000 area feet wiggle 100,000 toes with their donation of 10,000 pairs of socks.

We thank all of our supporters. It’s been an exciting March thus far for the ATC. We’re hoping all of 2023 will be the same.

Join the Club and Thank Sam’s Club

(February 22, 2023) The ATC screams a loud “Thank you very much!” to Sam’s Club in Gurnee for their recent generous donation to the Antioch Traveling Closet. We appreciate your support!

View the Winter Giveaway Photos/Video–Finally!

(December 27, 2022) The webmaster sincerely apologizes for not posting photos of the Winter Giveaway event sooner. They say, “Better late than never,” don’t they? In any event, we thank all of the many volunteers who helped make the giveaway the success it was. We hope you enjoy the photos.

To see photos taken at the event, click on the “Photos” selection in the menubar above or click this link. Stay tuned to the ATC website for information on the next ATC event!

ATC Founder Lisa Fisher to Appear on CBS News This Friday

(October 26, 2022) CBS News Chicago has arranged to do an interview with Antioch Traveling Closet founder Lisa Fisher. The interview will take place sometime during the 9:00am newscast on Friday, October 28. Lisa will appear around 9:50am.

Amongst the topics to be discussed will be this weekend’s Winter Wear Giveaway on Saturday, October 29. The Antioch Senior Center will be the site of the event.

Area Organizations and Businesses Line Up to Help the ATC

(October 18, 2022) The following groups have recently helped out the Antioch Traveling Closet either by volunteering or or through donations.

The ATC relies on groups like these in order to meet our mission of helping the area’s needy. Our sincere thanks are extended to all involved.

The Antioch Community High School field hockey team scores a goal by volunteering to help the ATC.

We’re grateful to the Lake Villa Eagles 11u baseball team for stepping up to the plate with their volunteer efforts.

A large thank you goes to the Great Lakes Credit Union in Bannockburn for the donating hygiene kits, each with a hand written in the bag.

ATC Announces Winter Wear Giveaway Event on October 29

(October 15, 2022) The Antioch Traveling Closet is happy to announce its Winter Wear Giveaway event from 9:00am to 12:00pm on Saturday, October 29. The venue will once again be the Antioch Senior Center located at 817 Holbek Dr., near the main fire station.

Please do not bring any bags; they will be supplied at the event. Also, please note that there will not be any hairdessers at this event.

Please share this notice with your friends and family! We hope to see you there!

Antioch Dentists Donate Supplies to Help the ATC Mission

(October 15, 2022) It’s difficult to be anything but all smiles after receiving a large donation of oral hygiene supplies from Redwing Dental Care, 421 E. Rt. 173 in Antioch and Heritage Dental, 800 N. Main St., also in Antioch.

The ATC thanks these businesses for their support and we encourage our supporters to consider them for their dental care in the future.

Bombas Continues ATC Support With 10,000 Pairs of Socks!

(October 15, 2022) Bombas has come through again for the Antioch Traveling Closet with a huge donation of 10,000 pairs of their quality socks. This doubles the ATC donation they made in February of this year. In addition to their world-class socks, the company also manufactures underwear for men, women, and children. The New York-based company has donated over 25,000 pairs of their socks to us so that we, in turn, can give the feet of our area’s needy some joy and warmth and pride.

The company was founded on the principle that they will donate one pair of their socks to charitable organizations for each pair they sell. According to the company’s website, Bombas has donated over 75 million clothing items to the homeless including the three most requested items: socks, underwear, and t-shirts.

The company’s name derives from the Latin word for “bumblebee.”

“Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They’re small, but their combined actions have a big impact on the world. We like that. That’s why our mantra is ‘bee better.'”

Our best wishes and thanks go out to Bombas, for helping the ATC achieve our mutual goal of helping the area’s needy—two feet at a time.

It’s the Coke vs. Pepsi Challenge! It’ll Be a Shell of a Time!

(October 7, 2022) Join fellow Antioch Traveling Closet supporters Saturday, October 8, at the Shell gas station at 830 Main St. in Antioch for an exciting Coke vs. Pepsi Challenge and help the ATC at the same time. Food will be available.

Be there!

Solve a Charity Puzzle and Help the ATC

(September 6, 2022) A unique website called Charity Puzzles has made the Antioch Traveling Closet one of its featured charities. If you’re a fan of crossword puzzles (or would like to become one), find out how you can can have some fun exercising your vocabulary and help the ATC at the same time!

You can learn more by visiting Charity Puzzles.

August Back-to-School Giveaway Photos/Video

(August 14, 2022) Hundreds of area students will be well prepared for the new school year after attending the 2022 ATC Back-to-School event held on Sunday, August 7. ATC volunteers helped over 410 attendees select brand new backpacks filled with school supplies and a few outfits to wear, as well. The ATC also thanks its priceless volunteers, as well as the many groups and businesses who made donations of school supplies, backpacks, and, of course, their time.

To see photos taken at the event, click on the “Photos” selection in the menubar above or click this link. Stay tuned to the ATC website for information on the next ATC event!

Area’s Future Scholars Get the Tools They’ll Need

(August 5, 2022) State Bank of the Lakes in Antioch has donated 120 new backpacks, complete with school supplies, to be distributed at this Sunday’s Back-to-School Giveaway event.

Liberty Community Church, 1640 W. Gelden Rd. in Lindenhurst has donated 70 backpacks, also filled with supplies.

The area’s future scholars, and the ATC, deeply appreciate the donations which will be handed out at the August 7 Back-to-School Giveaway event.

A portion of SBOTL’s 120-backpack donation.

Liberty Community Church’s backpack donation.

The Latest Donation Collection Events for the ATC

(August 2, 2022) The ATC extends its thanks to Heartland Bank and to Junior Girl Scout Troop 45423 for holding donation collection events for our benefit.

Let us know if your group or organization is willing to hold a similar event and we can assist with the details.

Heartland Bank’s ATC donation table.

Junior Girl Scout Troop 45423 are all smiles at their recent donation collection event.

The ATC Announces the August 7 Back-to-School Giveaway

(July 23, 2022) The Antioch Traveling closet will be holding its annual Back-to-School Giveaway on Sunday, August 7 from 9:00am to 12:00pm.!

The event will once again be held at the Antioch Senior Center, 817 Holbek Dr. (at Depot St.). Please read the above event poster for details about event rules, requirements, and restrictions or click here to download a pdf copy of the poster.

Raymond Autogroup Continues Their Support for the ATC

(July 7, 2022) Antioch Traveling Closet founder Lisa Fisher has a wide smile as she is surrounded by smiles of the Raymond Autogroup, 118 Rt. 173 and 119 Rt. 173 in Antioch. The event is the presentation of Raymond’s generous donation to the ATC effort. Raymond Autogroup has been a long-time supporter of the ATC and we ask all of our supporters to support them, in turn.

Thanks, again, to the Raymond Autogroup!

Two Independence Day Stories

Story the First

Once upon a time, there were a group of people who sought to control their own destiny. They wanted painters to be able to paint what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to paint. They wanted writers to be able to write what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to write. They wanted the creators to be able to create what they wanted, and not what some nasty government wanted them to create. They also wanted independence from Great Britain–a life free of government tyranny, a life of individual freedom, the liberty to live the life they chose.

In June of 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution declaring, in part, this independence from King George III, et al.

On July 2, Lee’s Resolution calling for independence was voted on and approved.

The events of this day so moved future president John Adams to the point that he wrote the following to his wife, Abigail, on July 3:

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

After the approval, the Congress made various alterations and deletions to the resolution and the result that formally announced the break with England, the Declaration of Independence, was approved and officially printed two days later, on July 4. It has been this date, July 4, that has since been celebrated, not the 2nd.

Story the Second

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the most important Founders, were colleagues, bitter enemies and in their later years, the dearest of friends. They also took part in one of History’s most amazing coincidences.

On July 4th, 1826, exactly 50 years to the day since the Declaration of Independence was approved, John Adams lie upon his deathbed. His last words were, “Jefferson lives!”

Unbeknownst to Adams, a few hours earlier, also on July 4th, 1826, at his home in Montecello, Thomas Jefferson had also died.

In 1831, the fifth President of the United States and one of the Founders, James Monroe, also died on July 4.

(Our historian webmaster also points out that the period of July 1-3, 1863 were the dates on which the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War was fought. Approximately 160,000 soldiers took part; 51,000 died [US 23,000; CS 28,000]. The battle turned the tide of the war, though its end was still almost 2 years away.)

The ATC’s Growing List of “Thank You’s”

(June 4, 2022) From the Desk of Lisa Fisher: I’m very excited to share with everyone that I have been voted one of The Nextdoor100. Thank you to Elizabeth Grindol and those who voted for me! The Nextdoor100 is all about amazing local business and neighbors who go out of their way to spread joy, offer help, and bring our communities together, so being a part of this means a lot. To see my story and who else won, go to The Nextdoor100 website!

We also extend our thanks to the following groups who have made recent donations to the ATC:

• The JX Gives Back Family Foundation for their generous cash donation.
• The Student Council at Hillcrest Elementary School for their wonderful donation collection of toiletries and cleaning supplies.
• The NJHS and Student Council at Antioch Upper Grade School for their generous monetary donations.
• the Antioch Junior Womens Club for their donation from their Comedy Event held earlier this year.

We are very grateful for your support!

Daily Herald Features ATC MayDay Giveaway

(April 29, 2022) The Daily Herald website has an article featuring the Antioch Traveling Closet’s Spring Giveaway this Sunday, May 1. Click this link to go to the Daily Herald website to read the article.

ATC Announces the May 1 Spring Giveaway

(April 19, 2022) The ATC will be holding its annual Spring Giveaway at the Antioch Senior Center, 817 Holbek Dr. on Sunday, May 1, from 9:00am-12:30pm. Details about event rules, requirements, and restrictions are in the above poster.

Bombas Donates 5,000 Pairs of Socks—50,000 Toes Applaud!

(February 19, 2022) Bombas, manufacturers of world-class socks and underwear for men, women, and children, has donated 5,000 pairs of their socks to the Antioch Traveling Closet, according to ATC founder Lisa Fisher. Over the years, the New York-based company has donated over 15,000 pairs of their socks to us so that we, in turn, can give the feet of our area’s needy some joy.

The company was founded on the principle that they will donate one pair of their socks to charitable organizations for each pair they sell. According to the company’s website, Bombas has donated over 50 million clothing items to the homeless including the three most requested items: socks, underwear, and t-shirts.

The company’s name derives from the Latin word for “bumblebee.”

“Bees live in a hive and work together to make their world a better place. They’re small, but their combined actions have a big impact on the world. We like that. That’s why our mantra is ‘bee better.'”

Thank you, once again, Bombas, for helping the ATC achieve our mutual goal of helping the area’s needy—two feet at a time.

The Korean-American Friendship Network—Making Winter Warmer

(January 21, 2022) Lisa Fisher is thrilled to announce that the Korean-American Friendship Network will be visiting Antioch with a major donation meant to help needy area residents through a frigid winter.

On Sunday, January 30, Ann Jhin, President of Korean-American Friendship Network, along with other members of the Network will be graciously bringing 200 brand-new, adult winter coats to the Antioch Senior Center (817 Holbek Drive in Antioch) to present to villagers who lack proper winter outerwear. As an added bonus, the ATC will also have miscellaneous coats, hats, gloves, and hand sanitizer available, as well. All of this will again be at no charge to attendees.

The doors to the Senior Center will open at 11:00am and close at 1:00pm

We are grateful beyond words to Ann Jhin and her employees at the Korean-American Friendship Network to have been chosen as a recipient for this remarkable donation.

Thanks to Larsen Electrical and Target for Their Holiday Donations

(January 3, 2022) Larsen Electrical Technologies, 4716 52nd Ave., in Kenosha, a long-time supporter of the ATC once again came through for us with another of their generous donations.

We also tip the ATC hat to the Target store at 6601 Grand Ave. in Gurnee for their donation of gift cards which went a long way in replenishing our holiday supply.

It’s through partners such as these that the ATC is able to reach its goal of helping the area’s needy families and making their holidays a time to remember.

The ATC Teams Up Again with the Antioch Pizza Shop

(January 2, 2022) The ATC will be teaming up again with the Antioch Pizza Shop, 994 Rt. 59, for our annual fundraiser sponsored by the popular eatery. The above poster contains all of the details for the January 26 event. You can also download and distribute a pdf of the poster by clicking here. We hope to see you there!