Customers Support the Community and a Local Charity

Customers at Mountain Hardware in Wrightwood, California, not only support the community by shopping at a local independent store—they can support a local charity, too.

“My father set up a donation box many years ago,” says Mike Troeger, owner of Mountain Hardware. “It’s a wooden box with six slots, and each is labeled with the name of a charity.

“People may choose to drop their receipts into the slot of their choice, and a donation will be made to that charity,” he says.

Each donation is for 5 percent of the total purchase price. Troeger and his team add the totals and write the checks to each of the charities on a quarterly basis.

“We are happy to be able to help support local charities,” says Troeger.

“Customers love that they can help us direct the donation dollars, and of course, charities appreciate the donations,” he says.

The staff can also print a second receipt for customers, in case they have a return.

The charities supported may change from time to time, but customers always have several options to choose from as they decide where they want those dollars to go.

“In our small town, this works great,” says Troeger. “It’s a win for everyone.”