Giving spirit strong at HCO

A local charity has experienced rapid growth over the past seven months and it's showing no signs of slowing down.

Hartley Community Outreach has served more than 60 families since it opened its doors in October of 2020. The charity started out offering used clothes, toys and baby items to families in need, but has since expanded to offer a wider wardrobe selection, household wares and even non-perishable food.

"We offer newborn sizes all the way through adult 4X," said Mari Howard, one of Hartley Community Outreach's founders. "Our use has been expanding. As fast as it's coming in, it's gone out just as fast."

The charity is situated downtown in the former Med-Equip Pharmacy building located at 141 S Central Ave. Howard, who owns the building with her husband, Rusty, spearheaded the idea for the charity along with Holly Myers, Mindy Jo Alesch and Louise Fennell. Local support has come in droves, and there's no been shortage of secondhand goods to share.

Some clothing items have even arrived with the tags still on.

"Some of the stuff coming in, I was worried about getting rid of," said Howard. "But it was gone in two days."

Hartley Community Outreach was born out of abundance. Howard's grandson had outgrown much of his wardrobe, and she and her daughter were hoping someone else could find good use for it.

They gathered it all up and put the word out on Facebook. Since they had a large building to house it all, the pair figured they would host a few weekends of giveaways and be done with it.

To their surprise, that assumption was a little off base.

"It blew up really fast," Howard said. "From two boxes of clothes to an entire building, it's been amazing. It's been nice to have in town."

Howard and Fennell gave an update on Hartley Community Outreach to the city council on May 10. The pair said they'd like the entity to become a certified non-profit organization so they can acquire more grants to help those in need. They also shared they're hoping to update the front of the building with better signage.

"We've heard a lot of good stuff," said Council Member Ron Hengeveld.

The charity has served families from not only the City With a Heart, but also from Primghar, Sheldon and the Lakes area. No names are taken when people visit, but organizers keep an inventory so they know what items are popular and what needs to be restocked.

"It's not our business to ask," Howard said.

Donations are always welcome. The only things Hartley Community Outreach cannot accept are mattresses and car seats. So far, all monetary contributions have gone towards utility costs.

Howard said the organization has plenty "in the back."

"If I brought all the stuff from upstairs downstairs, it would fill the whole building again," she said.

The charity is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., or by appointment by contacting Howard at (712) 363-0403.