Community.  It’s a Half-Pint Resale theme!  It’s what buying local is all about. 

But it’s also that time of year where we all are thinking about giving back to our communities through our local non-profits. It’s what keeps us going over here at Half-Pint. Our Motto is always DO GOOD.

We’ve been honored to support Kindred Kids through the donation of items post each sale.  Kindred Kids, located in Columbus, WI, is a free resource to families that have children with special needs. Kindred Kids provides a lending library, complete with toys, books, games, and therapy equipment, as well as wheelchairs and communication devices.

The Goodman Community Center is also top on our lists of non-profits we love and personally support.    As they say, “We help children learn to read, be leaders, handle life’s ups and downs, get through school, and see a future full of opportunities. When we help an older adult feel less isolated and more connected to her community in the company of friends, we know the strength of our community. When we see a food pantry customer finally get that job and get back on his feet, and then volunteer or donate, we see the resilience of our community.”   Perhaps you’ve been to their café, used their amazing community space (or shopped the sale in their gym in our earlier years of the sale!)

Read the stories on this page (I dare you not to get tears in your eyes…)  They even have opportunities to give to youth in their programs or directly TO their youth programs through donations of specific gifts through their Holiday Gift Giving Program (ModPodge or Acrylic paints anyone?)  Stop in and follow the snowflake trail!

We also love Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM), serving the West Madison, Middleton and Cross Plains areas.  They have a wonderful program during the holiday season called “Sharing Christmas”.  Through this program, you can be matched with a  family and receive their holiday wish list, so you can shop for gifts that they might not otherwise receive.  Read this personal story written by a Half-Pint volunteer who participated in the program last year and how it changed her life.

You can see the other non-profits that we’ve been proud to support here, including Mikayla’s Grace, the Rape Crisis Center, Community Justice Inc., and Mother and Child Resources.

We also asked our volunteer coordinators to share one of their favorite local Non-Profits:

HEIDI

Angel’s Wish in Verona.  It’s a no kill pet rescue that stops at nothing to find loving homes for mostly cats, but also dogs.  They are amazing and tireless in their efforts to help animals and match them with wonderful families.

SUSAN

Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) is near and dear to my heart. They provide much needed support, advocacy and safety to women, children and men.  Currently they are raising funds to build a much-needed facility do they can provide more emergency shelter and better individual and group support opportunities.

My newest favorite charity is the Lussier Community Education Center. This 30 year old west side community center is steeped in grassroots community organizing as it provides after-school care for all ages, employment resources and support for adults, meals and companionship for seniors and much needed emergency food for families.  Their welcoming and open facility offers a great place for community members to come together.

So, now it’s your turn.

So, Half-Pinters, what are your favorite non-profits in the area?   Comment on our blog or on our facebook page – Tell us who they are, and why you support them, and we’ll pick one person’s charity at random and give the non-profit a $100 donation before years end.

Deadline:  Monday, December 10

We thank you for being a part of this amazing community!