Tossed & Found Grant Awards

Tossed & Found thrift store in Elma is pleased to announce the recipients of $8500 in charitable grants
awarded in their Fall 2025 grant cycle. A recent surge in customer sales allowed Tossed & Found to increase
their funding total from the $6000 initially allotted to $8500 this cycle. This was fortuitous in that a record
number of 16 grant applications were submitted for the Fall grant cycle. As per grant parameters, applicants
were either a government entity or a 501c3 non-profit entity and projects needed to be for the betterment of
their communities in the Elma, Alta Vista, Lourdes, or Riceville areas. Entities/projects receiving funding this
cycle included:
1. $500 to the Alta Vista Library for a new patron computer
2. $1000 to City of Elma for the covered bridge remodel and bike trail extension project
3. $1000 to Elma Park Board for T-ball program equipment updates
4. $1000 to Firefighters of Elma for a Milwaukee tool replacement project
5. $1000 to Elma Memorial Hall Board for a fencing project
6. $750 to Gardens of Elma for a shed & signage project
7. $850 to Riceville Community School for PBIS Cat Cart supplies
8. $850 to Riceville Community School form a kindergarten coding project

9. $400 to Riceville Community School for a preschool social/emotional learning project
10. $750 to Riceville Food Pantry for We All Need Protein project
11. $400 to Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail Association for a bulletin board & signage project
This $8500 in grant funding awarded increases the grand total of funds distributed to $55,900 over the
opening of the thrift store in June 2019. Tossed & Found thrift store is a non-profit entity under the fiscal
umbrella of The BRIDGE Organization Inc. in Elma. It is staffed by local volunteers who accept gently used
home décor, kitchenware, clothing & shoes, jewelry, toys, Donated items that are then sold with proceeds
going to charitable community betterment grants in two annual grant cycles; March & September. To donate
items, contact Shannon Gebel @ 563-379-0999 (work 641-393-2543) or Callie Weigel @ 641-220-3073. You
may also message us on our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/Tossed&Found . Tossed & Found does
not accept donated perishable items, toiletries, chemical products, books, movie , electronics or large
furniture. Hours of operation are Tuesdays/Thursdays 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. and every other Saturday morning
8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. During the months of April-August we add evening hours of 5:00-7:00 p.m. on
Mondays & Wednesdays.

Shown in Photo (L-R) Kevin O’Brien for Firefighters of Elma, Stacey O’Brien for Riceville Schools, Samantha Burke for Riceville Schools, Jim Green for Wapsi-Great Western Trails, JoLynn Eastman for Riceville Schools, Emily Ptacek for Elma T-Ball program/BRIDGE trail extrension/Elma Memorial Hall projects, Crystal Griffen for Alta Vista Library. Other recipients not available for photo are listed below in article.
Shown in Photo (L-R) Kevin O’Brien for Firefighters of Elma, Stacey O’Brien for Riceville Schools, Samantha
Burke for Riceville Schools, Jim Green for Wapsi-Great Western Trails, JoLynn Eastman for Riceville Schools,
Emily Ptacek for Elma T-Ball program/BRIDGE trail extrension/Elma Memorial Hall projects, Crystal Griffen for
Alta Vista Library. Other recipients not available for photo are listed below in article.

    Posted: November 26, 2025 in

    Share

    All News