Karen Reese and other members of the Benton County Republican Women organization have been working on a project to offer campaign merchandise since January. Reese, who is chairman of the fundraising committee, plus other volunteers tried to find a storefront where they could sell the merchandise. However, they were unable to locate a place and decided to become mobile by keeping their inventory in a trailer with the logo “The Right Stuff” on its side. After traveling to their destinations, the volunteers set up a tent where they sell their products.
“God was shutting down one door but opened another,” said Reese. “Now we can go to Warsaw, Cole Camp and Lincoln. We have been to Cole Camp where the Zucchini Races were held, were in Warsaw for Jubilee Days and will be open during Heritage Days. We also try to be where there is lake traffic. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are our main days to be open.”
Reese said that the mobile store opened on June 15 and will operate until the election in November. She said that some of the most popular items are hats, flags, t-shirts and Trump yard signs. Other items include bracelets, koozies, Christmas ornaments, key chains and bumper stickers. There are also signs for local candidates which are free.
Reese said that she has been with the Benton County Republican Women for five years. She wanted to contribute to the community and has spent hundreds of hours on this year’s pop-up store campaign merchandise project. She has had help from other women including Janelle Mullen, Susan Steiner, Maria Cavin, and Lisa Treece who are members of the Fundraising Committee. Also helping are club member volunteers Victoria McColm, Martha Foster, Rachael Sherrer, Donna Snelling, Ivy Razek, Julie Hagedorn, Donna Davis, Elena Diaz and Barb Hammond.
“I truly appreciate all the hours everyone has volunteered while working with me on the committee,” said Reese. “It is also a pleasure meeting like-minded people and is fun to meet people from out-of-state who buy our merchandise.”
Reese and her husband moved to Warsaw in 2006 where he began his new job as superintendent of Warsaw R-9 schools. When he retired from Warsaw schools, he became a special education teacher in Lincoln’s R-2 school district and retired from that position in 2018. Reese taught school in Lincoln for 16 years before retiring in 2020.
