The owners of the Cold Stone Creamery at Power and Germann roads will mark the store's 20th anniversary by giving away a full day's sales. Every purchase on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., will go to House of Refuge, a Mesa nonprofit that provides transitional housing to families experiencing homelessness, owners Joe and Laura Kolnick said.
The store, at 7507 S. Power Road, Suite 104, on the northeast corner of the intersection, is also collecting household supplies for the families the nonprofit serves.
A long partnership
Joe Kolnick said the couple has given House of Refuge more than $100,000 since the store opened, through two large fundraisers each year. That figure does not include the other causes the Kolnicks have supported; in announcing the anniversary event, they said they have helped more than 250 nonprofits and community causes, including youth programs, schools and sports groups.
"We've always believed that being a local business owner comes with a responsibility to give back," Kolnick said in the announcement. "We may not be able to solve every problem, but we can all do something to make a difference."
Kolnick, a longtime youth soccer coach and trainer, said he has supported domestic violence shelters and organizations helping families affected by abuse for more than 35 years.
What House of Refuge does
House of Refuge traces its start to the 1993 closure of Williams Air Force Base. Since 1996 it has used homes on the former base as transitional housing for families, along with support services aimed at helping them move into stable homes, according to the nonprofit. It reports that 89% of participating families have graduated to stable housing.
