Tomahawk Community Thrift Shop awards grants to local organizations

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

TOMAHAWK – More than 10 local organizations received funding through the Tomahawk Community Thrift Shop (TCTS)’s latest round of grants.

Founded in 2019, TCTS is a 100% volunteer-run, non-profit organization that returns 75% of its net profits back to other local nonprofits twice a year in the form of grants.

TCTS has been at its new location at 318 N. 4th St. in Tomahawk for the past two years, after relocating from the current Dollar General building just a few blocks to the south.

In the latest round of grants, TCTS distributed $24,860.00 to local groups, bringing the organization’s total distribution to more than $140,000.00 over the last several years.

Latest grant recipients

Tomahawk Main Street Inc. received grant funding to bring a Wisconsin State Historical Marker to the S. Tomahawk Ave. boulevard. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the markers “tell the stories about events, individuals, buildings or sites of local, state or national significance that contribute to our state's rich historical heritage.” There are more than 600 official state markers in Wisconsin that carry approved historical inscriptions. 

Grant funding allocated to the Tomahawk Area Historical Society will go towards the organization’s planned new antique print shop and boat museum.

Thanks to a pair of TCTS grants, Kinship of Tomahawk will be able to fill Kinskids’ backpacks with supplies at the beginning of the school year, as well as hire retired teachers and business members to tutor six to 12 students for two hours per week. TCTS noted that the tutor program has helped increase graduation rates at Tomahawk High School.

With its grant funding allocation, American Legion Post 93 will rejuvenate an area in the building’s basement used by local Boy Scouts, while the Legion Auxiliary will dedicate grant monies towards a kitchen remodeling project.

Lincoln County 4H is slated to use grant funds to repair and revamp the recently-purchased Dairyland Stand at the Merrill Fairgrounds, where the group will operate an ice cream stand during the Lincoln County Fair. Operating the stand will help teach 4H-ers employment skills, TCTS noted.

Grant funding allocated to Tomahawk Together will go towards Our Dream Park, the new all-inclusive playground and splash pad currently under construction at Washington Square Park on N. 4^th St. The park is anticipated to open later this summer.

The Tomahawk Lions Club’s 4^th of July events were supported by a TCTS grant.

The City of Tomahawk received grant funding for privacy screening at the Tomahawk Area Dog Park. The addition of privacy screening is due to the expansion of the SARA Park campground to the west of the dog park. The screening will keep pets calm and unable to see the campers, TCTS said.

With the help of its allocation of grant dollars, Loon Rescue LLC will purchase a Bandit 38 airdrome, which the group will attach to Jon Boat, turning it an airboat for rescue efforts in winter or in backwaters and swamps.

The Tomahawk Public Library will use its grant distribution to fund its Fall Reading Challenge, non-fiction children’s books and Tinker Tuesday after-school supplies.

Tomahawk Hometown Christmas’s grant funding will go towards Christmas light pole banners that will be displayed along N. 4th St.

About TCTS grants

TCTS has two grant periods per year – from May 1 through June 30; and Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

Grant applications can be picked up at TCTS during the grant time frames listed and be turned in to the shop or emailed to tctsgrant@gmail.com.

Volunteer applications can be picked up year round. 

For more information about TCTS, visit www.tomahawkthrift.org.