"I'm not rich, but I'm rich in love," said Dawn Boll, who owns Lucy's Laundry in Hellam with her husband, Joe. "If I can share something with others, I will share it." With that philosophy in mind, the couple set up a "giving table" in the laundromat, located at the rear of 2 W. Market St, Hellam, in December. They encouraged people to donate items for others to give as Christmas gifts, and the project took off from there.

"This is a very giving community and a loving community," Dawn said. "It's been a huge hit."

Dawn got the idea for the table, which has since expanded to several shelves, after a friend gave her an item to donate at a local giveaway drawing. "My husband said, 'Why don't we give it away at Lucy's?'" Dawn recalled. "We set up a table and invited people from the community to give and take items." Throughout the month of December, community members donated games, new toys, dolls and other gifts for children, as well as household goods, paper products and supplies for pets.

Lucy's Laundry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week year-round, so it's easy for people to come in to donate an item or pick up something. "It's amazing to see all the people who come in," Dawn shared. "Moms come in and bring their kid to pick up a gift, or they bring their kid to donate a gift. There have been people in here every day. If they're not dropping items off, they're taking an item. I had somebody come in on Christmas Eve at 10 p.m. and get something off the table."

She emphasized that the table is for everyone, and she's been happily surprised that people have only taken what they needed. "This is a no-judgment zone. If you need something, you can come and get it," she remarked. "I've never had anyone come in and take it all. It's been beautiful."

Although she planned to keep the giving station up only through the holidays, it was so well received, Dawn hopes to continue it indefinitely. "I've had numerous people say, 'You have to keep this going,'" she commented, noting that she plans to do specific drives geared toward holidays like Easter while continuing to offer necessities throughout the year. "I will have it set up for paper products - toilet paper, paper towels, tissues - anything you can't purchase with food stamps."

Not only does she hope people will come in for what they need, but she also encourages donations. "If you can donate, pick up something like a bottle of dish detergent. It's not super expensive, but it can really help somebody," she said. "There is a real need in our community, and there are also so many generous people in our community. We love this community, and we love helping people."