What is Shopping Anyway?
Shopping Anyway connects those who ask “How Can I Help?” with those who say “Here’s What We Need.” Shopping Anyway is a one-stop platform where nonprofits can list their needs on a profile page donors can access through a free app. Organizations can list needed items, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising events. When a donor favorites an organization, they receive a push notification whenever a new need or event is added. Running tallies show quantities needed, so there’s no more too much jelly and not enough peanut butter.
What was the inspiration behind Shopping Anyway, and how did you come up with the idea?
The inspiration is twofold. First, my husband Buddy and I have been volunteers in one capacity or another for most of our lives. My experience ranges from being on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and the Milford Education Foundation, to being a PTA officer, to planting trees on Charles Island. Buddy has been a Milford Rotarian for 29 years and is active in the Milford community, including being the Chairman of the Economic Development Commission for the City of Milford. We know nonprofits need an effective way to keep donors engaged year-round. We also believe that when giving fits into something people already do—shopping—it becomes easier and more accessible. My mom was a geriatric nurse, and my dad supported numerous charities. After they passed away, I used money from the sale of our childhood home to create an app that could help nonprofits nationwide. Helping your fellow neighbor has always been instilled in me. We can all do our part. The idea also came from my time with the Calf Pen Meadow PTA, when someone mentioned needing bottled water for a back-to-school event. I said I could get them because I was “shopping anyway”. Our tagline is “A lot of People Helping A Little, Helps A Lot,” and it’s so true. People want to help! They just need to know the needs.
Is there a particular customer story or experience that has stuck with you?
I think the most impactful story is from when there was a fire at an encampment behind the Milford Lowe’s in the summer of 2025. Many people were reaching out to the Beth-El Center asking how they could help. Beth-El gave instructions about how to download the app and listed the displaced clients’ needs on the app. Over 2 days, there were 55 downloads and people engaging.
What has been your favorite part of building Shopping Anyway?
The collaboration and the ongoing enhancements we made to get it just right. Throughout the process, with our developer, Peralta Design in Shelton, we would talk things through and say things like, “What if it did this!” It was a great process. Also, I love telling the story of how it came to be and the way it’s different from anything out there.
What does Shopping Anyway mean to you personally?
It means living my purpose and doing my part to help nonprofits fulfill their missions and engage donors efficiently, effectively, and impactfully. It means carrying on a legacy of doing whatever you can do to help your fellow man. My father would say “taking care of our brothers and sisters in Christ”, and I love that. We’re all just living our lives on this third rock from the sun, and living a life in service to others is just something that I take to heart.
Where do you see Shopping Anyway in the next few years?
I would love to see Shopping Anyway become the go-to tool for nonprofits and donors—a one-stop shop for organizations to communicate with people who want to help. I would love to provide major sponsorship opportunities because an advertisement for Shopping Anyway is also an advertisement for the nonprofits. Someone sees it, downloads the app, and immediately has a list of ways to help.
Nonprofits can have a free, no-obligation-to-buy profile on the app by emailing info@shoppinganyway.com. Donors can download the app for free on Apple or Android using their name, address, email, and phone number. Their information will not be shared or sold.
“...it’sa one-stop platform where nonprofits can list their needs on a profile page donors can access through a free app. Organizations can list needed items, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising events.
“It means living my purpose and doing my part to help nonprofits fulfill their missions and engage donors efficiently, effectively, and impactfully. It means carrying on a legacy of doing whatever you can do to help your fellow man.”