Businesses donate $1,580 to fairgrounds tornado recovery

To The Press

Several businesses working with a Waterloo company have joined to raise money through T-shirt sales to help support recovery efforts at the Floyd County Fairgrounds after a tornado destroyed several buildings and damaged others last month.

The Rustic Corner in Charles City, along with Home & Gift Gallery in Mason City and Moe & Arrow Boutique in Waverly, partnered with Waterloo-based Iowa love to donated $10 from the sale of every “Iowa love” T-shirt sold at the stores.

Their combined effort raised $1,580 to go toward the fairgrounds cleanup and rebuilding efforts.

“We can’t thank Iowa love enough for helping with our rebuild process,” said Amy Staudt, president of the Floyd County Fair. “We are truly blessed to be part of a generous community and county.”

The day after an EF-1 tornado hit the fairgrounds and other areas in Floyd County, Iowa love founder Willam Heathershaw approached the company’s Charles City retail partner, The Rustic Corner, about helping out.

Tami Vetter, owner of The Rustic Corner, said, “Within minutes of William texting me to see if there is something we could do together to support recovery efforts, we were determined that we wanted to donate a big chunk of our Iowa love T-shirt sales — $10 of each sold — for the following 10 days.

Soon after, the Waverly and Mason City companies also asked to join the fundraising, and other companies also inquired about helping.

Since founding the social enterprise at the end of April this year, hundreds of Iowa love fans have purchased “Iowa love” T-shirts online and through its network of 20 retail partners in 15 towns across Iowa to in part support Iowa nonprofits.

For those still wanting to support the Floyd County Fairgrounds recovery efforts fundraising by purchasing an “Iowa love” T-shirt, efforts continue with Darbe & Co. Boutique in Greene. Orders over the phone at 641-816-4040 are accepted.