Give Guide

SUPPoRTING oUR LoCAL CommUNITY is a shared effort and one that’s accomplished in a variety of ways. Perhaps you volunteer your time to build homes, serve food, help animals or clean up public spaces. Maybe you’re an advocate for shopping locally. Or maybe you make a yearly donation to a nonprofit organization you believe in.

In these pages, you’ll find a sampling of the hardworking nonprofits in the CRANDIC that fight day in and day out to make this a more livable place. These groups rely on donations from individuals like you and businesses that support their mission.

You’ll also learn about a few independent retailers that bring a thoughtful and unique product mix to local shoppers. These businesses depend on shoppers’ dollars to continue to adapt and thrive.

Year-round support of nonprofits and retailers is essential to the longevity of our community, but end-of-year giving and holiday sales can provide a much-needed boost and leg up for the new year, especially as the two-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa nears. This holiday season, find a cause you can rally behind in our donation drive (www.littlevillagemag.com/give) or knock out some gift shopping at a small business you can champion.

For more information about our Give Guide program, contact ads@littlevillagemag.com.

AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF IOWA

55 12TH Ave Se, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.bLACKIoWA.orG

The African American Museum of Iowa, founded in 1993, exists to preserve, exhibit and teach Iowa’s African American heritage. AAMI serves 30,000 patrons annually with educational resources regarding Iowa’s African American history and culture through programs, presentations and digital content.

Currently, AAMI is proud to present a temporary exhibit entitled Mapping Exclusion: Redlining in Iowa, on display now through August 2022. This exhibit explores the systematic denial of various services by federal and local government agencies and the private sector to residents of specific neighborhoods, which historically affected Black populations in Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Dubuque, Davenport, Des Moines and Waterloo. The exhibit will look at these cities and the long-term effects of redlining on

Julia DeSpain / Little VIllage

the current issues faced in these areas today.

Though AAMI’s offerings lift up and celebrate Black voices in Iowa, they are not intended only for Black audiences; AAMI exists to educate all of Iowa’s population about their shared history, and their content is open and accessible to all. Visit the website to learn how you can help.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF JOHNSON COUNTY

3109 oLD HWY 218 S, IoWA CITY WWW.bbbSJC.orG

County was founded in 1976 and serves an average of 350 young people each year by creating and supporting 1:1 relationships between local youth and adult mentors that ignite the power and promise of youth in Johnson County and the West Branch school district. Youth who have professionally supported mentors do better academically, socially and at avoiding risky behaviors, making for stronger individuals and communities. In the past two years, through BBBSJC, mentors provided the equivalent of $562,130 annually in volunteer hours.

With the pandemic, BBBSJC temporarily suspended school-based mentoring programs in the interest of public safety. However, this past fall, the organization was recognized as a mission critical partner and authorized to return to schools—but their return to normal is far from over. There are over 100 youth on the waitlist for mentorship. BBBSJC has recently kick-started the Bridge program, which engages these waitlisted youth in group activities. Mentors have also returned to schools in a limited capacity, and the after-school program in Solon and North Liberty continues to provide opportunities for support and mentorship to youth.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County is grateful for all forms of support they receive from the community. Visit the website for more information on how you can contribute.

BRUCEMORE

2160 LINDeN Dr Se, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.brUCemore.orG

brucemore inspires community interaction with history, preservation and the arts. The 26-acre estate reflects more than 140 years of history with its iconic 19th century mansion, outbuildings, gardens, landscape and artifacts. Since its founding as a nonprofit in 1981, more than one million people from all 50 states and more than 50 countries have visited this top Iowa tourist attraction for tours, programs, events and one-of-a-kind experiences. All this conservation is accomplished with only 11 full time employees and a handful of seasonal workers.

Right now, Brucemore is in the process of a multi-year effort to recover and restore the nationally significant buildings and landscape

after the devastating effects of the derecho in August 2020. With your support, Brucemore can recover and come back even stronger than before to inspire community interaction with local history, preservation and the arts.

CATHERINE MCAULEY CENTER

1220 5TH Ave Se, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.CmC-Cr.orG

Founded in 1989, The Catherine McAuley Center’s mission is to offer hope and opportunity through educational and supportive services for immigrants, refugees and women experiencing crisis. Services include one-on-one tutoring and group learning opportunities for adult learners; assistance navigating employment, transportation, health care and housing; and individualized support, basic needs assistance and therapeutic and skill-building opportunities. CMC serves around 850 clients annually, striving to help them achieve greater stability, community inclusion and improved quality of life.

As our community emerges from the pandemic, CMC must develop the financial resources necessary to extend services to more people. While one-on-one tutoring for adult learners studying English and other basic academic skills was able to shift online in the pandemic, several volunteers stepped back from their roles. The waitlist for classes is only growing, so the Center is looking for caring community members who are willing to share one hour of their time per week! New tutor orientations are offered twice monthly; visit the website for more information. Additionally, financial external repair services.

Partner families make a down payment, invest hundreds of hours of sweat equity into the construction of Habitat homes, and then make mortgage payments on a zero-interest loan. Large groups of community volunteers led by the Construction Director and Site Supervisor make this work possible.

CVHFH is funded in part by the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which readers voted “Best Appliance Store” in Little Village’s Best of the CRANDIC 2020! Between ReStore, construction and administrative operations, Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity has about 24 employees. You can help make their work possible and learn more at the QR link to the left.

resources are needed to address the many changes to the refugee resettlement landscape in recent years. Resettlement agencies like CMC are still adjusting to increased refugee admissions while simultaneously planning for the possibility of even more arrivals from Afghanistan. Donations provide needed support for refugee families as they learn to navigate life in the U.S.

A lack of affordable housing and other factors has also exacerbated the level of homelessness in Eastern Iowa. Donations allow CMC to open its doors to more women in crisis and provide services that address the root causes of housing instability that women face, fostering a sense of community among women as they discover their own resilience and create meaningful futures.

CEDAR VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

350 6TH Ave Se, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.CvHAbITAT.orG

Cedar valley Habitat for Humanity has been bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope in Linn and Benton counties since 1988. Their mission involves providing affordable housing through new construction and rehabilitation projects, as well as performing some owner-occupied

COMMUNITY CRISIS SERVICES AND FOOD BANK

1121 S GILberT CT, IoWA CITY WWW.bUILTbYCommUNITY.orG

CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank is a volunteer-driven organization that provides immediate support for individuals facing emotional, food or financial crisis. CommUnity began as a suicide prevention hotline in 1970, and they continue to provide free, non-judgmental emotional support to anyone who needs it with resources available via call, text or online chat as well as mobile crisis outreach and support groups.

With approximately 100 paid staff and 200 volunteer staff, CommUnity’s food bank serves a large geographic area with multiple pantry locations, a mobile food pantry, food delivery and more services to address hunger

in our communities. Residents of Johnson County can receive weekly grocery assistance and choose their own items, and there are no requirements on income level or federal aid status for clients to access the food they need.

Visit CommUnity’s website to find out how you can support their work with a monetary or supply donation or by becoming a volunteer.

CORALVILLE COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

1002 5TH STreeT, CorALvILLe WWW.CorALvILLeFooDPANTrY.orG

Serving Coralville, Tiffin and Oxford, the Coralville Community Food Pantry was founded in 2009 and served an average of 3,250 residents annually from 2019-2021. With their mission statement—“We an anti-hunger nonprofit organization providing critical and innovative food assistance services to the greater Coralville community. We believe that food is a human right and that food has the power to bring people together.”—CCFP also acknowledges that food alone cannot fix the problem of hunger.

“Hunger and poverty are symptoms of deeper inequalities related to health, housing, economics, racism, ableism, white supremacy and more. Until we address those issues, hunger will persist,” writes John Boller, CCFP Executive Director.

In pursuit of the innovative solutions their mission statement promises, CCFP is currently raising funds to build a new and direly needed food pantry building which will help them remain a vital safety net for the long haul. Support this effort or learn more by visiting CCFP’s website at the QR link.

DISCERNING EYE

218 e WASHINGToN ST, IoWA CITY DISCerNINGeYeoPTICAL.Com

opened in 2005, this family-run business showcases the best in independent designer eyewear. Shop the main floor for the latest styles, or check out their lower level for package-priced eyewear starting at $165 for single vision lenses. If you need an eye exam, set up an appointment with either of Discerning Eye’s experienced eye care professionals, Dr. Dan Wolfe and Dr. Haley Mathews. Consider giving the gift of stylish sight this holiday season!

GIRLS ON THE RUN OF EASTERN IOWA

26 e mArKeT ST, IoWA CITY WWW.GIrLSoNTHerUNIoWA.orG

Girls on the Run is dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Over a 10-week period, coaches meet with small teams of girls twice a week. Each practice focuses on themes that the girls can relate to, such as friendship, recognizing/managing emotions and working as a team, introducing them to lifelong health habits and building confidence. Each season ends with a celebratory, non-competitive 5K which gives a sense of accomplishment and a framework for setting and achieving life goals.

But Girls on the Run is about way more than running! Research indicates that by age nine, girls’ self-confidence begins to decline. 50 percent of girls ages 10 to 13 experience bullying, and this is at a time when peer relationships become more central to girls’ lives. Additionally, physical activity levels have been found to decline starting at age 10 and continue to decline throughout adolescence. After participating in Girls on the Run, 95% of girls improve in confidence, competence, caring, character, connection and physical activity.

Each year, GotR inspires an average of 1,000 girls in Buchanan, Benton, Black Hawk, Linn, Grundy, Henry, Washington, Johnson and Jefferson counties to be joyful, healthy and confident. If you’d like to support this mission, visit their website at the QR code to the left for more information—including how you can become a coach!

IOWA ABORTION ACCESS FUND

P.o. boX 721, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.IAAFUND.orG

Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF) is dedicated to the belief that the freedom to choose legal abortion should be available to everyone. Founded in 1978 in Cedar Rapids, IAAF is the second-oldest abortion fund in the U.S. Every year, IAAF helps hundreds of Iowa and Quad Cities residents who would otherwise not be able to afford an abortion. In the past 3 years (2019-2021), IAAF has provided an annual average of over $62K in assistance to residents of Iowa and the Quad Cities region and served an average of 425 callers per year (2018-2020).

The sole function of IAAF is to provide funds to callers who need support paying for a safe abortion. IAAF coordinates with clinic staff to confirm the appointment and sends payment directly to the clinic to be applied to the caller’s bill. Community support makes this work possible. Aside from one part-time staff member, IAAF is entirely volunteer-run. One-time gifts and sustaining monthly support are the best ways to support IAAF’s mission to ensure reproductive freedom and access for all—learn more or contribute today at the website linked in the QR code.

IOWA CITY HOSPICE

1025 WADe ST, IoWA CITY WWW.IoWACITYHoSPICe.orG

Iowa City Hospice and Visiting Nurse Association are now a team! Together, the new organization aims to offer “the right care, in the right place, at the right time” from birth to end of life. And they’ve been doing so for a long time: ICH began serving patients in 1983, while VNA of Johnson County has supported the health needs of our community since 1949.

Hospice isn’t just for final days, and it isn’t a place. Hospice is a philosophy that brings life-affirming services to patients, families and caregivers, allowing them to set their own care goals and live each day to its fullest. ICH brings comfort, support and spiritual care to patients in Johnson, Cedar, Iowa, Linn, Louisa, Muscatine and Washington counties; VNA works to improve quality of life by assisting individuals and families so they can achieve the highest level of health and independent function appropriate to the persons involved. Together, ICH and VNA provide care with dignity with a team of 100 paid staff and a growing fleet of compassionate volunteers.

When you choose to support ICH/VNA, you are supporting a hometown nonprofit that serves your neighbors, in your local communities. Visit the website above to learn more about Iowa City Hospice and Visiting Nurse Association of Johnson County and how you can help, either with a monetary contribution or a contribution of time and ability as a volunteer.

IOWA CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY FRIENDS FOUNDATION

123 S LINN ST, IoWA CITY WWW.ICPL.orG

The Iowa City Public Library is a center of community life that connects people of all ages with information, engages them with the world of ideas and each other and enriches the community by supporting learning, promoting literacy and encouraging creativity. Your generous financial contribution to the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation makes a difference for everyone through the Library, which is celebrating 125 years of service this year!

As their mission statement shares, the Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation generates private resources to support the Iowa City Public Library. Through its support of the Iowa City Public Library, the ICPL Friends Foundation served 417,710 people annually (2018-2020), utilizing 49 volunteers and no paid staff. Support for ICPL Friends Foundation helps provide library services and uphold the values of ICPL: access, belonging, collaboration, community, enjoyment, intellectual freedom and literacy. Visit the website above to support this work and help ICPL and the Friends Foundation celebrate 125 years.

IOWA SHARES

20 e mArKeT ST, IoWA CITY WWW.IoWASHAreS.orG

Iowa Shares, founded in 1995, is a statewide federation of social action, environmental and cultural organizations and one of only three recognized workplace fundraising federations in Iowa. The 22 member organizations that comprise Iowa Shares address problems at

their root causes and create long-lasting positive change in Iowa’s communities. Member nonprofits across Iowa support families, the environment, civil and human rights, animal welfare, lifelong learning, international cooperation, health and the arts, to name a few. The majority of the member nonprofits serve eastern and central Iowa, but altogether, the organizations serve thousands of Iowans.

Iowa Shares is committed to transparency. The organization is known for its democratic management model and commitment to honoring donors’ intent. Additionally, Iowa Shares manages to keep overhead costs low. Their administrative expenses are 15% or less and their work is accomplished with only 1 half-time paid staff member and a small team of administrative volunteers, and yet, the annual economic impact of their work is nearly $70,000. This makes it possible for a greater proportion of donor funds to go directly to the work they want to support.

If you’d like to learn more about Iowa Shares’ network of member organizations and how you can help, visit the website to the left.

IOWA VALLEY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

2401 SCoTT bLvD Se, IoWA CITY WWW.IoWAvALLeYHAbITAT.orG

As part of the national network of Habitat for Humanity organizations, Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity has served Eastern Iowa since 1992. Their mission statement, “Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope,” is enacted through the services and opportunities they provide to the community: access to affordable homeownership, aging-in-place home modifications, emergency home repairs, major appliance replacements and educational programming about financial literacy and homeownership, to name a few.

IVHFH served 76 clients served from July 2019-June 2021 and is currently working on expanding the Helping Hands home repair program to serve even more this year. With sustainable funding resources for this program, especially its newly launched Emergency Repair and Major Appliance Replacement service (ERMAR), IVHFH hopes to be able to offer services to more residents in Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Louisa and Washington counties. Learn more and find out how to support IVHFH at their website.

LEASH ON LIFE PET SUPPLIES

IoWA CITY: 432 HIGHWAY 1 WeST NorTH LIberTY: 650 PACHA PKWY WWW.LeASHoNLIFe.NeT

Founded in 2006 by co-owners Julie Phye and Laurie Smith, Leash on Life Pet Supplies offers high quality, affordable products for dogs, cats and rabbits. With an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable all-women staff and a curated selection of items, Leash on Life will be able to provide an excellent match for your pet’s needs.

“We love the shop-local vibe in Iowa City; people care about what and where they purchase. Sales in our two stores translate into paying our local staff and providing for those in need through our contributions,” wrote Julie.

Giving back is essential to Leash on Life’s year-round mission. Their support extends to IC Animal Center, Last Hope, Fur Fun Rescue, Iowa Humane Alliance, DVIPCooper’s House and many other rescues and shelters. Additionally, they support IC Pride, numerous food banks and pantries, donations to fundraisers for local schools and nonprofits as well as Iowa Public Radio.

Whether you have a particular item in mind or are buying a gift card for a family’s fluffy friend, you can find all the latest on their website, on Facebook or by taking a fun trip to the store and chatting with the staff!

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MYEP

407 HIGHLAND CT, IoWA CITY WWW.mYeP.US

mYeP is dedicated to providing advocacy and person-centered services which facilitate personal growth and community inclusion for people with disabilities. But it didn’t start that way. In 1968, MYEP began as a federal initiative encouraging cities to provide summer employment opportunities for disadvantaged youth and young adults aged 14 to 24. MYEP was built around the concept of summer conservation projects, which emphasized working in small groups to complete projects that benefit the entire

community. As funding from grants dwindled, MYEP expanded into services for people with disabilities and, in 1996, MYEP was granted 501(c)(3) status to continue their work as a nonprofit. At MYEP, before taking any action or making any decision, the benefits and impacts on their service recipients are carefully considered, a guiding principle they recognize as “Service Before Self.” This is reinforced by the organizational values of continual improvement, ownership and engagement. Learn more about MYEP’s work and how you can get involved at their website!

REVIVAL

117 e CoLLeGe ST, IoWA CITY (PeD mALL) WWW.revIvALIoWACITY.Com

opened in 2003 by Iowa-City-born, NewYork-City-trained Sheila Davisson, Revival is a boutique where style always trumps fashion, offering a fun and curated assortment of resale, vintage and new clothing and accessories. Looking for a holiday gift-giving success? Check out Revival’s popular customizable gift boxes! Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for someone else, you will be browsing clothing brands that are committed to sustainable and ethical practices within the fashion industry when you shop at Revival.

Not only does Revival provide a wide variety of socially and environmentally conscious apparel, but they also focus on supporting local organizations that strive to create equal and inclusive services to all humans. Shopping at Revival can support local causes like Emma Goldman Clinic, United Action for Youth, FilmScene, DVIP and The Englert Theatre. Check out the website to shop online, or drop by their newly renovated brick-and-mortar space on the Iowa City Ped Mall!

RIVERSIDE THEATRE

119 e CoLLeGe ST, IoWA CITY (PeD mALL) WWW.rIverSIDeTHeATre.orG

A great city deserves serious theater. Theater that sparks discourse, builds community, delights, inspires, breaks down barriers and explores the complexities of the human spirit. Riverside Theatre strengthens the cultural fabric of Iowa City through intimate, engaging productions of everything from classics to new works, fostering a deeper community appreciation for the dramatic arts.

In January 2022, Riverside will open a new 150-seat theater in the Crescent Block Building in the heart of the Ped Mall. This space will house an expanded set of programming including plays, musicals, cabarets, “opera on-tap” and new play readings—all homegrown with local and regional professionals. Riverside is now in their 41st season, but this is their first capital campaign in 20 years! Show some support for local theater by visiting their website and making a contribution.

SUSTAINABLE IOWA LAND TRUST (SILT)

101 W mAIN ST, WeST brANCH WWW.SILT.orG

Iowa’s agricultural economy is not without its problems. Access to land for beginning farmers is difficult to come by, expanding cities are making prime farmland scarcer, climate change threatens our food systems and food insecurity is an ever-present problem in our communities. Since 2015, the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust has worked to address these issues, support rural communities and permanently protect Iowa land to grow nature-friendly table food.

SILT believes in the power of the family farm. In 2021, they announced the launch of the Circle Our Cities campaign. The campaign’s mission is to ground local food

systems in permanent local farms, surrounding ten Iowa cities with permanent table food farms in ten years. SILT leaders are hoping to raise $3 million to fund this effort. With your support, SILT hopes to protect 4,000 acres of rich Iowa farmland, help 400 beginning farmers get or stay on that land, and in doing so, sequester 10,000 tons/year of carbon and feed 800,000 Iowans.

SILT permanently protects land for nature-friendly food production, helping future generations of farmers afford land to cultivate. They provide free consultations to landowners interested in learning what food their land “wants” to grow. If you’re interested, visit the website to the left to contribute or look for “Iowa Landowners’ Guide to Sustainable Food Crops” on SILT’s website to learn how you can bring diverse, nature-friendly table food farming back to Iowa’s landscape.

SWEETS AND TREATS

201 S CLINToN ST, IoWA CITY (oLD CAPIToL ToWNCeNTer) WWW.ICTreATS.Com

Founded in 1983, Sweets and Treats is your one-stop shop for all things delicious and delightful! You’ll find handmade chocolates, novelty candies, classic sweets and imported delicacies—candies and sweets of every kind, for every sweet tooth.

While Sea Salt Caramels are a consistent favorite, check out the varieties of gummies and handmade treats, some of which are made right in the store. And don’t miss the hidden gems among the shelves! Take a trip abroad without leaving town by trying the many delicious European chocolates and candies available in-store.

Shop owner and candy connoisseur Monique Holtkamp, loves running this Iowa City shop and providing her time and the store’s treats for folks of all ages. “I love that we are home to many cultures & kindness,” Monique says. Get a slice of what makes Iowa City sweet this holiday season by visiting the website at the QR link.

SYSTEMS UNLIMITED, INC

2533 SCoTT bLvD Se, IoWA CITY WWW.SUI.orG

Systems Unlimited, Inc. (SUI) provides support to people with disabilities and mental health needs living in East Central Iowa. Services are individualized and based on each person’s needs, ranging from individuals living in a residential care setting to those who just need a staff member to drop by their home to check in. Regardless of the needs of the client, SUI’s mission since 1971 has been to promote dignity and growth for the approximately 400 individuals they serve, work that is supported by the approximately 950 staff.

SUI holds day programs in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City where clients can find community, build friendships, volunteer and visit area attractions. SUI also helps clients seek and maintain employment in the community. If you’d like to help support individuals with disabilities and mental health challenges to live rich and connected lives, visit the website for more info on how to help.

THE IOWA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

LoCATeD INSIDe CorAL rIDGe mALL WWW.THeICm.orG

The mission of the Iowa Children’s Museum is to inspire every child to imagine, create, discover and explore through the power of play! Since 1995, ICM has advocated for the benefits of informal learning and play for children. They serve an average of 180,000 individuals annually with interactive exhibits, drop-off programs, events and community outreach that create hands-on opportunities for children to use their imaginations and learn about the world around them. But ICM’s mission isn’t just about having fun—it’s backed by overwhelming research that says playing is essential to a child’s development.

In a typical year, about one out of every four museum admissions is provided free of charge. Your membership, donation or price of admission all make it possible for ICM to offer free events each month, provide free memberships to families through the ICM for Everyone program and partner with other nonprofit organizations to provide free or reduced museum admission to families in our community. Providing children with quality play

experiences, regardless of their ability to pay, is central to ICM’s nonprofit mission.

THE MIDWEST WRITING CENTER

401 19TH ST, roCK ISLAND, IL WWW.mWCQC.orG

The midwest Writing Center, founded in

1980, exists to help “write more light into your life.” Through literary programming such as workshops, readings, youth education programs, contests, conferences, residencies and book discussion groups, MWC’s mission is to foster appreciation of the written word, supporting and educating its creators. Not everyone who writes wants to be an author or even to share their work publicly, but MWC believes there is much to be gained from even a basic writing practice and that anyone can be a writer. Via their imprint MWC Press, they also endeavor to publish works by Midwestern authors.

If you’d believe in the power of the written word, visit the website linked above for more information. You can also seek out MWC’s partner organization, Porch Light Literary, which provides a community space for people of all ages, income levels and levels of experience to participate in Iowa City’s rich literary offerings.Thank you for supporting literary education!

THE QUIRE

P.o. boX 1101, IoWA CITY WWW.THeQUIre.orG

The Quire is a nonprofit chorus for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks promoting a positive image of these communities through excellence in choral music. As one of the longest continually running LGBTQueer nonprofits in the region, The Quire serves as a vital community and artistic space for LGBTQueer folks in eastern Iowa.

Founded in 1995 in Iowa City, The Quire’s first performance was by 14 singers for a June Pride talent show. The Quire recently celebrated 25 years of making music and now has more than 50 active members, two paid staff and 12 leadership volunteers. The chorus has performed for an estimated 4,500 people annually between 2018 and 2021.

The Quire aims for sustainable accessibility by limiting financial obligations and membership requirements and pushing members and leadership to maintain a justice-oriented mindset around topics often used to marginalize folks in our communities. Membership is open to anyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or queer, and to anyone who is respectful and affirming of these communities. Musical ability is not required to be part of The Quire! There are no auditions for general membership; many current members don’t read music, and there are non-singing opportunities, as well. Learn more about joining or supporting The Quire at the website above.

WEST MUSIC

CorALvILLe: 1212 5TH ST mArIoN: 1398 TWIXT ToWN rD WWW.WeSTmUSIC.Com

West music offers a huge inventory of musical instruments sold by a knowledgeable and helpful staff, as well as instrument repair and lessons. They’re committed to early childhood music education as a way to give back. By partnering with performing arts organizations and area schools to offer scholarships opportunities for students in need, West Music hopes to help facilitate access to music and music education.

West Music was recently named 2021 Dealer of the Year by the National Association of Music Merchants, and with 80 years of experience in the industry, you can trust that West Music will provide you with a great experience and a high quality instrument, no matter the price point.

West Music is proud to call the Iowa City/ Cedar Rapids area home. The passion and commitment to arts and culture that exists in Iowa City is without peer, and the community has been home to ongoing inspiration and innovation in music education. Visit West Music’s website or stop by one of their two locations to choose the gift of music this holiday season. And if you’re looking for a gift that will appeal to nearly any age and ability level, consider a ukulele!

WILLIS DADY HOMELESS SERVICES

1247 4TH Ave Se, CeDAr rAPIDS WWW.WILLISDADY.orG

in 2020, willis dady provided 22 9 9 ,, 5 5 8 8 8 8

nights of shelter for our communtiy

E m p o w e r i n g c l i e n t s t o b r e a k t h e c y c l e

o f h o m e l e s s n e s s a n d b e c o m e s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t .

Willis Dady Homeless Services was founded in 1987 by Jim Welborn, an individual who experienced 25 years of homelessness himself. Welborn recognized the need for support services to empower clients to break the cycle of homelessness, and WDHS is honored to continue his legacy by serving 1,000 clients in Linn, Benton and Jones counties annually.

WDHS’s mission is to provide shelter and prevention services to people experiencing homelessness and near-homelessness. They enact this mission through one-on-one case management at their Emergency Shelter and Community Overflow Shelter, housing services, street outreach and various homeless prevention and employment services that empower and provide tools of self-sufficiency in these populations.

The organization’s newest campaign, Willis Dady Works, will expand the employment services that WDHS offers to include training and social enterprise opportunities for individuals with high barriers to gaining and maintaining stable employment. It will also expand WDHS’s housing services by adding 13 additional supportive housing units for individuals and families. Please consider making a donation to support this important work.

WILLOWWIND SCHOOL

950 Dover ST, IoWA CITY WWW.WILLoWWIND.orG

In 1972, 16 children embarked on a learning adventure in a small white house on Fairchild Street as Willowwind School opened its doors for the first time. Nearly half a century later, Willowwind continues to provide distinctive and immersive learning opportunities to children in preschool through 6th grade by emphasizes social-emotional learning, the arts and social justice in addition to core instruction in their educational programs.

This school year, Willowwind is piloting an Integrated Arts Program. Weaving the arts into core instruction brings lessons to life and invites children to dive deeper into meaningful learning. It also allows students to explore and engage with Willowwind’s social justice curriculum through creativity and collaboration.

Iowa City, with its roots in culture, arts, and community involvement, has graciously served as Willowwind’s extended classroom for the last 50 years. Your support will help ensure that Willowwind can provide relevant, challenging and experiential learning adventures for another 50 years. To make a gift or learn more about Willowwind’s programs, visit the website linked in the QR code to the left. Learning and art are meant to be shared and to inspire!