College Bookstore, 50 S. Court St., has always sold shirts commemorating Moms Weekend.
But this year, a percentage of sales from these shirts will go to helping women in need.
It's really gratifying that someone in the local community would make the connection between (Moms Weekend) and what we do with domestic violence
said Kate McGuckin, executive director of My Sister's Place, a local non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter and support services for victims of family violence.
College Bookstore will donate $2 to My Sister's Place for every $9.99 shirt sold.
The store is just one local business joining forces with a philanthropic organization to raise money over Moms Weekend.
The Smiling Skull Saloon, 108 W. Union St., will be hosting the third-annual Breastfest tonight. Proceeds from the concert - featuring Backwards, a local blues and classic rock band - will go towards purchasing digital mammography equipment at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.
My wife had breast cancer so the topic is rather dear to us said Marc Newman, guitarist for Backwards. And we live in town so we thought it would be a nice thing to do for the community.
Empower, a local non-profit organization empowering women, children and communities in Africa through education, has also coordinated successful Moms Weekend events every year. This year, Jackie O's Pub and Brewery, 24 W. Union St., will host a beer tasting to benefit Empower.
I think (this event) provides a really good way for people to realize how connected we really are
said Crystal Edmunds, who is organizing the beer tasting. You may be a mom in Ohio
but your actions can affect the rest of the world.
There should also be a connection between local businesses and non-profits, Edmunds said.
I think it kind of coordinates with the whole Empower philosophy to connect with local organizations and build community
she said. I think it's good to support local business.
But such Moms Weekend events are about more than just creating more business, said Andrew Stout, assistant general manager at College Bookstore.
It's a really important thing that (My Sister's Place does) for the community
and since our business is based in this community
we think it's important to do things like this
Stout said. We're really trying to build awareness for them. ... We're trying to make it more than just a check.
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