News : Theisen's Awards Grants to area Organizations

Wesley United Methodist Church

Through its corporate giving program, Theisen's awarded a total of $400,000 to nonprofits in 24 store communities.

Among the local recipients were:

-Benton County Disaster Recovery Coalition

-Benton County Food Pantry

-Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (HACAP) -Hiawatha

-House of Hope

-Shellsburg Public Library

-Van Horne Firemen's Association

-Vinton Public Library

-Wesley United Methodist Church 

Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto invites nonprofits in its Iowa and Wisconsin store communities – including Vinton – to apply for its 2025 More For Your Community grants now through July 31. The grant program, which is supported by the Theisen’s Charitable Fund and through a partnership with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, will distribute an estimated $400,000 in funds across the region served by the retailer, with at least $5,000 available to each store community.

Last year, four nonprofits serving Vinton and the surrounding area received grant funding.

The maximum request per project application is $5,000. Organizations can apply online at www.dbqfoundation.org/theisens. Separate applications are available for organizations applying for a grant at a single location and organizations applying for grants across multiple locations. The deadline to submit applications is 5 p.m. July 31. The More For Your Community program provides direct grants to help launch or sustain projects that meet the basic needs of families and children: food, shelter, education, safety, and health. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government-sponsored organizations or school-sponsored organizations and directly serve children and families within 60 miles of a Theisen’s store. A full list of Theisen’s store communities is available at dbqfoundation.org/theisens.

“Serving local communities is at the heart of what we do,” says Tony Theisen, CEO and president. “Each year, we are proud to support organizations providing necessities to keep families and communities strong and healthy.”

Theisen’s has donated $4.2 million through the More For Your Community Grant program since its inception in 2009 and supports many other community events and organizations directly. In 2024, the program distributed nearly $367,000 to 192 organizations serving an estimated 600,000 people across Eastern Iowa and Western Wisconsin.

Marge McDonald, Library Director of the Sherllsburg Public Library said, "Thank you to our local Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto – Vinton store for our recent “Theisen’s More For Your Community Grants” grant. We are grateful to receive $500 to help furnish our event room with additional tables and chairs, making it a welcoming space for community use!

We look forward to hosting many wonderful moments in our new space. Please reach out to the library if you are interested in renting our event room for birthday parties, bridal showers, scrapbook events, community meetings, etc.

We also want to thank Mark and Gini Chase for their generous matching donation to support updates to our library.

Thank you all for helping us make this happen!"

Theisen’s Home•Farm•Auto serves its customers by offering top quality brands at an excellent value, focusing on exceptional customer service. Theisen’s currently operates stores in 21 locations across Iowa including: Ames, Anamosa, Cedar Rapids N.E., Cedar Rapids S.W., Charles City, Coralville, Davenport, Dewitt, Dubuque, Dyersville, Grinnell, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Maquoketa, Marshalltown, Monticello, New Hampton, Newton, Pella, Tipton and Vinton. There are also 3 stores in Wisconsin, located in Jefferson, Sparta and Black River Falls. Opened in 1927 by Leo and Kathryn Theisen, the four-generation company is supported by the Store Support Center located in Dubuque, IA.