ELLSWORTH – When Ellsworth’s Donna Constant sees a need in the community, there’s nothing that can stop her from addressing it. Just ask her good friend and fellow Heart member Cindy Baird.

“They claim I never say no to anything,” Baird said. “But I knew it was going to be a good thing.”

That “good thing” is the formation of the Ellsworth chapter of Heart, a 501c3 based in the Twin Cities that provides aid to families in need. This can be in the form of food, gas cards, furniture, clothing, toiletries, household goods, tools, or school supplies.

The Power of 1oo Women – Ellsworth group recently selected Heart as its Spring 2025 impact award winner, meaning Heart will receive at least $10,000 toward its mission in the Ellsworth community. Heart, along with finalists St. Croix Restorative Justice and Ellsworth Senior Center, presented to the Power of 100 members April 12 at The Bluffs in Hager City.

“We are extremely proud of it,” Constant said. “It’s an amazing, powerful thing that you can do in the community. I’m so proud and so tickled that our application was one of the three that was accepted.”

Constant learned of Heart through her career connections in the trucking industry.

“Because I’m in trucking, one of my customers has a store and the back of the store is where they have Heart,” she explained.

The Heart outlet gives nonprofits the ability to purchase new items at greatly reduced prices to give to families in need. The Ellsworth chapter is one of 27 missions in the Twin Cities area, and the only one in Wisconsin. Constant went to her church council at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and encouraged them to apply.

“Our purchasing power there is so strong,” Constant said. “Everything that we buy is new. It might have a scratch in it, or a dent in it, but it’s still new. The clothes all have the tags on them.”

In just one year, Ellsworth’s Heart has touched more than 1,000 people in Pierce County, referred to them through Pierce County Human Services, the Salvation Army, churches, schools and word of mouth. They were able to give 200 pairs of shoes to children in the Ellsworth Community School District last summer, as an example. They were able to help families at Christmas time with gifts and meals. They don’t want to enable people to become dependent on their help; they want to give people having a hard time a hand at getting on back on their feet. On that note, Heart has taken over the St. Francis gas card program. Those seeking gas cards must fill out an application, demonstrate a need and meet eligibility requirements. The number one can receive per year will be capped.

“We want to touch the lives of children, because they don’t ask to be born and taken care of,” Constant said. “Not all parents are meant to be parents. Some parents have drinking or drug problems.”

She’s convinced that providing children with things they need, such as new shoes and toothbrushes, can grow their self-esteem, and in turn motivate them to become employable, positive, contributing members of society.

She and Baird, who attends English Lutheran Church, are proud of the room at Our Savior’s that is filled with things to help those in need. They’ve given away beds and freezers, helped fire victims and assisted people in furnishing homes after falling on hard times.

“Our goal is to stay right here in Pierce County,” Constant said. “We want to fix Pierce County.”

Homelessness in the county is higher than ever, she said, with the poverty rate increasing by 6.32% since 2022-23. She and other members raise money to purchase items for those in need by hosting candy sales, collecting at church coffee hours and other fundraisers. The group is helping to fill the gap left behind after Assistance Resource Center, a nonprofit serving the Ellsworth and River Falls school districts, shut down a couple years ago.

“We are going to help as many people as we can help. We can turn this $10,000 into $100,000 with our purchasing power,” Constant said. “We can buy pallets of toys for kids at Christmas. If it’s in the warehouse, we get it. Beds, cribs, vanities, bikes, it’s all free to them.”

“It’s pretty rewarding,” Baird added.

Those interested in donating or volunteering can reach out to Constant at 715-307-0451. Other members include Carolyn Schelfeffer, Melba Smith, Diane Wiskerchen, Denise Hager, Julie Winger and Patricia Peterson.

James Huppert fundraiser

Members of Heart are hosting a fundraiser for James Huppert 4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at the Pierce County Fairgrounds. Huppert is the brother of Ellsworth business owner Jason Marks, who owns Broz Bar & Grill in East End.

Huppert was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in January 2025. The group is serving a drive-thru to-go turkey meal at the Our Savior’s church stand at the fairgrounds (364 N. Maple St.) The meal includes turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetable, cranberries, bun and dessert for $20. All proceeds will go toward Huppert’s medical expenses.

Constant is hoping to sell 450 meals. Ellsworth Fire Department has offered to help cook the turkeys, which were donated.

“We want to see the community come together to help our own. Jason is a huge part of Ellsworth. He’s a big part of the community and does so much,” Constant said.

Sign up for your turkey meal at https://www.signupgenius/com/go/10C0E4CACAF28A2FFC16-56078913-help