A unique sensation washes over us when we witness an act of goodwill. Is that a warm fuzzy feeling taking hold of your otherwise lukewarm disposition? Is the ol’ heartstring getting a little tug? Regardless of how your body reacts to these gestures, it’s likely to be at its utmost when you’re here, in the heart of Carver County. If this giving bunch isn’t planning or attending a benefit, we’re busy making meals. And the businesses that give our town character also give of themselves: fundraisers, charitable missions, and much more. During this month of heightened gratitude, we highlighted a sampling of businesses who give wholeheartedly. Oh, and that feeling? It’s your heart melting.
Nice Shirt Co.
When you walk into Nice Shirt Co. on 1st Street in Waconia, you’ll find more than locally designed spirit wear and a charming, curated selection of items, many made by local artists; you’ll find a lot of heart. When Brooke Struck started attending her three boys’ soccer games, she couldn’t find any cute and comfy attire to wear while cheering from the sidelines. She decided to use her background as a graphic designer and combine it with her love of choosing colors and fabrics and creating unique designs, and opened her own small business. After all, it had always been a dream of hers.
Nice Shirt Co. earned its first dollar in the comfort of Brooke’s home, then went online and to Waconia’s popular town festival, and finally, she found the perfect spot, nestled in the first level of a charming house in downtown Waconia. Celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, Nice Shirt Co. wants its customers to join them in being a part of something bigger. “It takes a village,” Brooke believes. Gather and Grow Waconia Food Shelf is one place that they hold in high esteem because they know that food insecurity isn’t just an issue somewhere else. “I hope our customers feel proud knowing that part of the money they spend goes towards supporting our amazing community.” Pride is just one reason why customers walk through the inviting doors of Nice Shirt Co. time and time again. Follow Nice Shirt Co. on Instagram for details on upcoming pop-ups and holiday events @niceshirtco.
Trending Upward
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 28:40). This passage emphasizes the importance of compassion and help for those who are struggling is the driving force behind Trending Upward Thrift Shoppe, a ministry of Promise Church and a now 2-level non-profit thrift store in downtown Waconia. Trending Upward provides a quality shopping experience to their customers along with affordable, gently used clothing, home goods, shoes, and accessories. And all of this is done alongside their devotion to a giving spirit. A portion of their proceeds is given back to those in need in the form of gift cards through their Corners of Our Field program which allows donors to choose a local church or charity to benefit when they donate. “We are incredibly blessed by the generosity of the Waconia community, and it is because of shoppers, donors, and volunteers that we can be here and bless those who are in need,” says general manager Brianna Roth. And the generosity is spreading! They recently opened another shop in Chanhassen, which will house all their usual offerings with the addition of furniture. Pay them a visit, and you’ll learn that shopping ’til you drop never felt so good. Follow them along on their journey on Instagram@trendingupward.
Lakeside Farm and Flowers
Flowers symbolize a wide range of sentiments and emotions. They’re often given during a hardship, celebration, or simply ‘just because.’ The message? To express comfort, convey thoughtfulness, and simply say you care. When Kacy and Cody Honl opened Lakeside Farm and Flowers in 2022, little did they know that their thoughtful giving of a beautiful new experience in the community would someday be reciprocated tenfold through loving support. “We always knew we wanted to bridge city life and country life,” Kacy shares. “We’d had to hold our daughter back from picking flowers in other people’s yards, and the question arose, why can’t there be a place where people CAN pick their own flowers?” When you visit their blossoming field of flowers and pumpkins, you’re in for quite the experience. From July until the first hard frost, you’ll find an array of special cut flowers that you get to cut along with a vibrant pumpkin patch that would make Charlie Brown jealous.
Kacy and Cody both grew up in rural Minnesota with the importance of helping thy neighbor firmly planted in their being. This principle of extending a hand to others to keep the community strong is one of the reasons they place such a strong emphasis on giving back, regularly donating to the Lions Club, and various benefits in the community. This past summer, they found themselves on the receiving end of support when their son was diagnosed with cancer. Terrified initially, their fear was short-lived, though, due to the community who wrapped their loving arms around them. The Honls have gone on to give to the “Shine Bright For Kids Fundraiser” because so many of the ‘extras’ that play a vital role in a patient’s treatment aren’t always covered by insurance. Like flowers that flourish due to sun and water, so will the circle of generosity that has been planted in a field in Cologne, Minnesota. Keep up with all that’s happening at Lakeside Farm and Flowers on their Facebook page @lakesidefarmandflowers.
Karma Stacks
“Spread good karma and do it often.” This is the foundation on which Karma Stacks founder Jeanna Simonson built her jewelry business. In 2016, when she was diagnosed with advanced-stage colon cancer, she knew there was a long road in front of her, and she wanted a therapeutic travel companion. What began as a way to bring a little peace to her during a difficult time by giving good karma in the way of making beautiful bracelets for family and friends has turned into a successful full-time jewelry boutique gig in Victoria. “I started out making bracelets of every size, then I added necklaces, and now I’m working on earrings. I’m a creative, so I’m always launching new products.” Each piece she creates incorporates gemstones that bring peace, love, courage, and so much more to whoever adorns it.
Jeanna knows firsthand how paramount it is to support families who are going through cancer. A portion of all her sales goes to local charities, one very near and dear to her being the Pinky Swear Foundation, a children’s cancer charity. “I think it’s incredibly important to raise awareness about cancer and do whatever we can to help those that are fighting and those that have families who are going through it.” What’s on the horizon for Karma Stacks? Well, first, Jeanna was released from oncology in June of this year. She’s healthy now and ready to expand her business and continue her mission. Beautiful jewelry with good energy and an inspiring story and mission behind it? Now that’s good karma. To shop and learn more, go to: https://www.karmastacks.com/
Waconia Lions Club
“Where there’s a need, there’s usually a Lion,” says Rick Wagener, Lions Member and past District Governor. Since 1945, the Waconia Lions Club has been serving the community through donations, community service projects, events, fundraisers, and so much more.
“Our motto is: we serve,” adds Lions Club President Dale Copeman. “We’re fortunate enough to have charitable dollars that we can give to the high school sports teams, local food shelves, and really any community organization that comes to us; we can help.”
The Club’s donations to the community are extensive. You’ll be scrolling for a while on their website’s donations page to see all the fantastic ways the Lions Club supports the community, donating thousands to dozens of organizations every year.
Along with donations, the Lions Club puts on its annual Wild Game Feed dinner. It’s their biggest and most popular fundraising event, with over 600 people attending every year, enjoying door and raffle prizes and a great dinner with a menu that in the past has included grilled pork chop, smoked elk rolls, and walleye fingers.
In the summer, Take a Kid Fishing Day is another favorite event. “Any youth in the area can join in,” says Rick. “We take the kids out fishing in pontoons and boats and then return with their haul, clean up the fish, and have lunch. The kids go home with a rod and reel and some clean fish. It’s such a fun event.”
The Lions Club’s list of events is endless. Their upcoming Poinsettia Project delivers 500 poinsettias to local nursing homes, assisted living, and senior housing. Also in November is the Military Mailing project. “We pay for postage for people to send packages to military members,” says Dale. Around this time of year, the Lions Club also makes a large donation to the food shelf, allowing the food shelf to serve plenty of turkeys and hams around the holidays.
“Just knowing that we’re benefiting people is everything,” says Dale. “When you see how grateful and appreciative people are, we get the sign that what we’re doing is meaningful. We want people to know that we’re here to serve.”
Anybody can join the Lions Club, and to learn more about how they give back, upcoming events, and how you can get involved, visit: https://waconialionsclub.org/