A few months before opening Wheatgrass Saloon, I took a trip to Denver with my teenage daughter. Thanks to an Expedia package deal, we splurged, staying at the Brown Palace Hotel. To balance out the indulgence of a fancy hotel stay, we spent most of a day enjoying the search for thrift store treasures on Broadway. ( I have some great up-cycled sweaters from that day.) We tried to catch a cab to get back in time for our late afternoon spa appointments. There are no cabs in Denver. So, we ran down the road, working our way through the protestors who represented the 99% for the Occupy Movement in a park near the hotel and into the spa, where I was handed a glass of Prosecco and one of those warm soft things to put around your neck.

As I sat in a dimly lit lounge area, waiting for my turn on the massage table, I thought about what I wanted the as-yet-unnamed Wheatgrass Saloon to be and to offer. After the day’s experience, I wished this: that all women had the chance to not only spend a whole day with someone they loved as I had loved spending time with my daughter, I also wanted to think that all women could have access to these ridiculous treats of bubbly afternoon decadence. I wanted Wheatgrass to be a place for a woman who was having a tough time to go to get a healthy drink, a massage, a foot rub. I thought I’d team up with Tri-County Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, the Sue Wicklund Fund, etc.  As usual, my ideas are a bit ridiculous, but as usual they don’t entirely disappear.

So, my tiny offering in pursuit of this idea will take place monthly at Wheatgrass Saloon beginning this month.

On the fourth Thursday of each month 10% of purchases made will go to a pre-appointed local non-profit. All purchases made in the juice bar and for non-consignment items in the boutique will qualify for the 10% donation. We will begin September 24^th and continue with each 4^th Thursday of the month. If you have a non-profit in mind that you would like to receive recognition and a donation please pick up an application at the Wheatgrass Saloon juice bar counter.

I am going to pick the first non-profit, and then it will be up to you, so do, please, come in and make some recommendations.

On September 24th 10% will go to ASPEN, formerly known as Tri-County Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence, was incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.  ASPEN has continued to expand over the years to offer more programs and services to the community.  ASPEN serves the residents of Park, Sweet Grass, and Meagher Counties of Montana, but also extends services to anyone in a situation of domestic or sexual violence who are fleeing an abusive situation and need assistance.  These services include an emergency shelter, a 24-hour crisis line, crisis counseling, support groups, legal advocacy, information and referrals, safety planning, emergency 911 phones, assistance with Orders of Protection and/or law enforcement reporting, forensic medical exam support, and community outreach and educational programs.