Shopping with heart

Inside a Newton book store and tanning salon is a small table topped with hygiene products donated by local shoppers with big hearts.

Cheryl Hansen, owner of Book Trader Tan America, is one of several retailers in town participating in Destination Downtown Newton Alliance’s “Heart to Heart” event beginning Friday and Saturday. As part of the event, those products Hansen has collected thus far will go to people in need.

Heart to Heart encourages shoppers to make donations — monetary or otherwise — to a local non-profit hosted by participating locations, in addition to carrying out their regular purchases at Newton’s many retail stores in and around the town square.

This year, Hansen has selected IMPACT Community Action Partnership, an organization committed to helping low-income families meet basic needs, to be the featured non-profit at Book Trader Tan America. Instead of conforming to the two-day event runtime, Hansen has been collecting items all week.

“I tend to run a promotion longer than most people,” she said with a laugh, reasoning that she wants to acquire as many items as possible to help IMPACT, while also spreading word about the event and the organizations’ efforts in the community. “We’ve got so many places that you can help.”

Fire Things Reclaimed will work alongside Capstone Behavioral Healthcare; Olive ‘et Boutique will collect items for Salvation Army, WEST Academy and Newton High School food pantries; Choices Christian Living Store chose Discover Hope; EarthWise Pet Supply & Grooming will assist Jasper County Animal Rescue League; Silverado Boutique will also collect for WEST Academy’s food pantry; Advantage Credit Union teamed up with Family Crisis Center; and Relics is helping Iowa Veterans Home.

Vicki Wade, president of Destination Downtown Newton Alliance and owner of Olive ‘et Boutique, said most participating businesses will advertise what types of items or donations they are looking for online.

In return, businesses will offer promotions and other deals as a thank you.

For instance, customers at Olive ‘et Boutiqe who bring in two or more non-perishable food items will be given 50 percent off two items in the store.

“So it’s a chance for them to pick up that pair of shoes that they’ve been eyeing for 50 percent off now,” Wade said.

This weekend marks the second year Destination Downtown Newton Alliance has organized Heart to Heart. Wade said it is an easy way for shopkeepers to give back and to “educate” the people.

“We feel it’s important that these non-profits exist in our community. They’re serving a need, and we’re serving a need, too,” she said. “I can easily see where there could be customers who maybe work in Newton but live elsewhere and shop our stores, but they don’t necessarily know a lot about the non-profits in this community.

“So this is some exposure to the non-profits and the types of things that they need.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com