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We have partnered with a number of organizations to help us reach people that may not know about the Little Heart Project. These fabulous organizations provide a visible, fun area and encourage their patrons to grab a little heart and to spread kindness.
Click on the links below to view the organization website and how we were able to connect with some of them.
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400 4th St N, La Crosse, WI
Brilliant Bodywork Spa in La Crosse was one of the first businesses to offer our hearts to their clients. I met Adam and Stephanie, the owners, at a La Crosse Soup (www.soupnation.org) event in July 2022. La Crosse Soup is kind of like Shark Tank for organizations doing good things in the La Crosse area. Adam and Stephanie were one of the pitches this particular night and they talked about doing free tattoo removal for women that had escaped the sex trade. I was very moved by their passion for helping people. After the event, I went to talk to Adam and Stephanie and told them it seemed like the most natural thing to have our hearts in their office. Big crocodile tears streamed down Adam’s cheeks as he nodded. They have such passion for what they do.
Their mission is to help you unplug and recharge your life by providing a premier full-service spa experience to the greater Onalaska and La Crosse, Wisconsin community. They want to be your zen place to Unplug, Recharge and Transform!
933 Ferry St, LaCrosse, WI
From their website:
“Mission & Vision: Coulee Recovery Center provides confidential help to individuals and families impacted by addiction and leads the community in prevention, education, and awareness.
“Their vision is to help every individual and family recover.”
We hope our hearts are touching the lives of those that use the center’s resources.
2920 East Ave. S, #104, La Crosse, WI
In October 2022, their administrator, Tessa, reached out to me and said she was going to present this opportunity to her hand craft volunteers. In just one month, they made over 700 hearts for us and they are continuing to make hearts on an ongoing basis for us. I am so grateful for the effort of all these crocheters and to Tessa for coordinating this.
From their website: “Through collaboration with community nonprofit organizations, we provide meaningful volunteer experiences for individuals age 55 and better in our community. We achieve this mission by identifying community needs, recruiting, and placing volunteers in diverse, intergenerational volunteer opportunities throughout La Crosse and Monroe Counties.”
1009 4th St. S, LaCrosse, WI
theExchange is a La Crosse area furniture bank. I met Sheila, one of their founders, at Viterbo University in September 2022 at a Suicide Prevention Summit event. We were handing out hearts to everyone in attendance, and she immediately told me she would like our hearts in their shop.
From their website:
“theExchange provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. theExchange is driven by volunteers and donations of basic household goods and gently used furniture from the community.”
We are pleased to be a partner with The Exchange touching those in need.
1707 Main St., La Crosse, WI
Family and Children’s Center is so excited to make our hearts available to their clients. They also invited us to pass out 400 hearts at their biggest fundraiser of the year in October, 2022. We were honored to be a part of this event and so happy to have our hearts available to their clients.
From their website:
“Family & Children’s Center is a regional, private, not-for-profit 501(c)3 agency that provides services designed to strengthen families and promote individual well-being. We are nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, indicating we meet the highest standards for each of our programs.”
Please see their website for a list of available services
4324 Southtowne Pl, Eau Claire, WI
I met the owners, Jill and Leo Flether’s daughter, Alison, at The Suicide Prevention Summit held at UW-L in September 2022. After hearing me speak, she called her parents who live in Eau Claire, WI and after their conversation, she told me that they wanted a bucket in their store.
There is a Crochet Club at one of the high schools in Eau Claire. Their Advisor, Marjorie, read about us in Up North News WI, and asked her club if they’d like to make hearts and then distribute them at their school. The kids were very excited to do this and they distributed hearts all over school right before Christmas break. They have offered to supply hearts to Great Harvest Bread Co whenever they need more.
From their website:
“Great Harvest Bread, Served With A Side Of Purpose.
Our purpose and passion is to provide you and your family with the freshest and most flavorful baked goods you’ve ever tasted. Come in for a free slice of hot-out-of-the-oven bread or a taste of legendary goodies. Enjoy yourself and bring your children. We’re locally owned and community focused.”
419 Sand Lake Road, Onalaska, WI
I had the pleasure of meeting Linda, the owner of Love Your Body and Soul, and she was so excited to have a bucket of hearts to offer her clients. Her brain kicked into overdrive as we visited and she had idea after idea of how she would utilize our hearts. She offers blended Reiki Energy Healing, Sound Baths, and Crystal Healing.
From their website:
“Love Your Body & Soul was created through a family history of energy healers, exploration through readings, workshops, education, and life experiences. When you’re here, at Love Your Body & Soul… I have created a safe and welcoming place where you can be yourself. I am here to hold space for diversity. I am here to offer space devoted to listening, learning and embracing you as your true authentic self. I am here to listen. I am here to learn. I am here to walk with you….”
Linda recently went to speak in Madison to a recovery group and gave them hearts. She has so many interesting ways to incorporate our hearts into her business.
600 3rd St. N, La Crosse, WI
In the summer of 2022, someone posted to our Instagram page that they had found a heart at The Therapy Place in La Crosse,WI. A few weeks later, I was at a Suicide Prevention Summit event and Mary Cortessi, one of the owners of The Therapy Place, was singing with her husband, Dan Sabranek. I went up to talk to Mary after the event and told her that one of our hearts had been found at her office and I asked her if she’d want to host one of our buckets and hearts. She didn’t even let me finish my sentence before she said yes. I was caught off guard because I hadn’t even explained what the project was about. She said she already knew what it was about and yes, they wanted one of our buckets. Wow!!!
From their website:
“The Therapy Place is a private practice that offers psychotherapy to a wide range of clients in La Crosse and surrounding areas. We offer a private, confidential setting in a convenient location with plenty of parking.”
5500 E Lindstrom Ave, Mesa, AZ 85215
My parents spend half of the year in Minnesota and the other half in Mesa, AZ. They asked to host a bucket in their retirement village’s clubhouse. In January 2022, my dad is going to explain the project and invite all their neighbors and friends to take hearts and place them all around town. He’s of course, also going to try and recruit more crocheters. Thanks Mom and Dad for always supporting me and for being so excited about The Little Heart Project. I love you!
149 Graff Main Hall, La Crosse, WI
I met Blythe McConaughey at a campus event in the fall of 2022 and she was moved to learn about our project. We’re pleased that she wanted a bucket of our hearts to have available to students that come to see her.
From their website:
“At UWL we recognize that violence in any form can interfere with the work and learning taking place in our community. Often, someone who experiences a sexual assault, stalking, or violence or abuse in a relationship may find that they have difficulty focusing on work or on their studies.”
“The Violence Prevention Specialist is available to assist you with advocacy, information, and support so that you can make informed choices about the options available to you. Services are free, confidential, and available to all UWL students, faculty, and/or staff members.”
149 Graff Main Hall, La Crosse, WI
I had the pleasure to meet Issy Beach at an event on campus in the fall of 2022 and she was so excited to offer our hearts to the students that come into her office as well as to put on her display table at different campus events.
The mission of Student Life: Wellness and Health Advocacy is to provide the UWL campus community with culturally competent health education, health promotion programming, alcohol and other drug education, community engagement, and partnership that supports and empowers the campus community to make choices and create lifelong habits that promote health and well-being across all dimensions.”
126 5th Ave. S., La Crosse, WI
Sandra, the owner, was one of the first people to request hearts for her clients. I met her at the La Crosse Soup (www.soupnation.org) event in July, which was our first booth event. I had handed out hearts to everyone at the event and Sandra came over to my booth and asked if she could take a handful for her clients.
From their website:
“Sandra Petersen is a Wisconsin Licensed Massage & Bodywork Therapist. Her modalities include Swedish, Myofascial Release, Energy, Cranial Sacral, Oncology and more. She has a passion for women’s concerns and is mindful of how daily stress, chronic illness, mental health challenges, grief, trauma and PTSD can affect our wellbeing. Her trauma-aware approach is an informed and intuitive mix that will always include you and your own inner wisdom in creating a personalized treatment plan.”
Sandra, thank you for hosting one of our buckets!