Are you involved in any outreach services/charitable organizations in your community? If so, why and how do you participate?

Ali Wing giggle

Locally each store manager identifies schools and charities of their choice to support with a predetermined budget in in-kind donations, allowing our store teams to be connected to their communities, as well as vice versa.

Regionally, in 2007 we implemented a gently used “give back” program that makes our stores a drop-off location of choice for regional charity groups putting gently used baby products into the hands of moms in need. We love this program.

Nationally we donate store openings to our national partner, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, and offer “change round up” on our Web site with donations directed toward three children's charities, among other things.

Dave Laub Room to Grow

The second is really advertising. It is that bold statement that says “Look how much we gave.” It is a ploy to get the public to think we are good people and that they should shop our store. We might get recognized in a paper or a magazine or maybe at a banquet and give a speech so that we can draw attention to ourselves. That's why we give money to a charity — to draw attention to ourselves. I call that advertising, not charitable giving.

Phil Wrzesinski, Toy House

Phil Wrzesinski Toy House

We also are involved in many business organizations like the Midtown Association, the local downtown merchants group, the Jackson Community Foundation, Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Retail Success Academy, Jackson Local First Campaign and others.

On top of that we are teachers and educators. We use the expertise we've gained to help others, whether through a class for expectant fathers at our local hospital, programs on how to shop for toys and baby products for groups like MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), local church groups, other gatherings, or business-to-business presentations to help other businesses in the community learn from our experiences.

All of these come from our belief that we must give to receive. We have been blessed to be a part of the Jackson community for so long that we feel we must give back as much as we can. This is our town and the people who work for and receive aid from such organizations are our neighbors, friends and family. Whenever we can give of our talents and resources, we do.

Kim Crouchet Pippin McGee

I think we all want to make a difference in this world. Our event, Cleaning for a Cause, is based on getting people to clean out their closets and attics and donate their gently used items to Acadiana. We've branded our program as the Room to Grow program, meaning we give people in need essentials that help them get the room to grow. We collect the items at the store and give the donors a Pippin McGee gift card in appreciation.

When you partner with a charity, if done correctly, they do the screening for you. They ensure the family is really in need and with our particular charity they also make sure that they are not just getting a hand out, that they are trying to get back on their feet.

If Pippin McGee can be a part of trying to help someone accomplish that and I can drive traffic to our store and administer goodwill within the community, then we have a good plan.