Heart on Main Street donates over $20,000 to independent retailers

The organization has also started a new giving initiative for independent retailers.

J. Gabriel Living received a $5,000 donation from Heart on Main Street.

Heart on Main Street

Heart on Main Street, a nonprofit organization focused on helping independent retailers, has announced a new round of donations totaling over $20,000 to independent retailers in need and the launch of a new national program designed to foster community support across the retail industry.

The first donation in the organization’s first round of giving included a $10,000 grant to One Amazing Find in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Heart on Main Street says that donation was made possible through a partnership with nora fleming and its Band Together initiative, a philanthropic program that supports various nonprofit organizations throughout the year.

After a record-breaking fundraiser hosted by The Link Companies during the Atlanta Winter Market in January, Heart on Main Street was also able to extend its reach and help several independent retailers in North Carolina. With those funds raised, the organization awarded two $5,000 donations: one to J. Gabriel Living in Waynesville, North Carolina, and another to The Christmas Cottage in Chimney Rock, North Carolina.

“These donations reflect what can happen when passionate people and partners come together to support independent retailers,” says Patrick Keiser, executive director of Heart on Main Street. “It’s about more than money; it’s about restoring hope and ensuring these businesses continue to be cornerstones of their communities.”

In addition to these donations, Heart on Main Steet is introducing its Giving (in)ventory program. The new initiative invites retailers nationwide to donate new, unsold inventory to other store owners facing hardships. The program was inspired by Beth Lewis, owner of Olde Tyme Marketplace in Madison, Indiana, whose act of generosity sparked the vision for this collaborative effort.

Heart on Main Street says it remains committed to revitalizing Main Streets through financial grants, education, and resource-sharing initiatives like Giving (in)ventory. To learn more about these initiatives, apply for support or to contribute, visit www.heartonmainstreet.org.