PORT TOWNSEND — Quimper Mercantile Co. is launching a new program today aimed at giving back to the community by donating a portion of the sales proceeds from a Sunday to an area school district.
Today’s recipient will be the Chimacum School District.
“We’re community-owned, so it had always been our goal to give back to the community,” said Sheldon Spencer, manager of the store at 1121 Water St. in Port Townsend.
On Sunday, May 7, a percentage of sales will go to Chimacum School District.
Days for Brinnon and Port Townsend school districts will be held in the fall when school resumes after the summer break.
“We tried to figure out how to help the whole county, not just Port Townsend or one area,” Spencer said.
The Quimper Mercantile board has not released the percentage that will be donated. According to Spencer, since the program will be held at different times of year, some of which are busier than others, the percentages will vary slightly.
Each school district is guaranteed a donation of at least $1,000.
“We hope for significantly more, but that will depend upon our sales on the day,” said Holly Mayshark, Quimper general manager, in a news release.
Mayshark said staff hopes to work with supporters of each school district to maximize their donations.
“It’s symbiotic,” Spencer said. “The more people come and shop here, the more money we can give, so it really does help us in that way.”
Quimper Mercantile is a community-opened public stock company that opened in Port Townsend in 2012. It posted its first profits in 2015.
“Quimper has a mandate from its shareholders to be of service to our community above all else,” said Quimper CEO Peter Quinn in a news release.
“We chose to be a public stock company instead of a nonprofit or co-op to also tread lightly on our very generous and giving community.
“Our intent was to pay our own way after we opened, and we’ve succeeded. Now, we are able to give back in this strategic effort focused upon our entire county.”
Quimper Mercantile is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
For more about the store, see quimpermerc.com or call 360-385-9595.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@ peninsuladailynews.com.
