Community
Twin Cities, since 1962
63 years of community partnerships. Habitat, food bank, schools, scouts, neighborhood orgs. We invest in the community that’s invested in us. ~$280k+ donated annually + employee volunteer hours.
$280k+
Annual community giving
1,200+
Employee volunteer hours/year
60+
Active partnerships
63 yrs
Of community investment
Long-standing partnerships
Decades of community investment
Habitat for Humanity (Twin Cities chapter, since 1989)
$25k annual donation + 200+ employee volunteer hours/year. We’ve participated in 47 Habitat builds over 36 years. Tom Sr. + Tom Jr. have personally hammered nails on most of them.
Twin Cities Food Bank (since 1974)
$15k annual + employee donations. Food drives at all 3 stores during fall + winter. ~50,000 lbs of food collected through our drives over 51 years.
Minneapolis Public Schools — vocational programs (since 1995)
Equipment donations to MPS shop classes (~$8k/year). Scholarship for graduating MPS students entering trade programs ($5k/year × 4 students).
St. Paul Public Schools — apprentice partnership (since 2002)
Apprentice positions for SPPS graduates entering retail + service trades. We’ve hosted 23 apprentices over 23 years; 9 are still with Holloway.
Twin Cities Neighborhood Coalition (since 2008)
$10k annual + meeting space at our stores for community organizations. Used by neighborhood block clubs, urban planning groups, environmental committees.
Twin Cities Independent Hardware Association — founding member (1987)
Co-founded the Twin Cities Independent Hardware Association in 1987. Tom Sr. was founding president. We continue active membership + leadership today.
Sponsored events + programs
What we support each year
Twin Cities Marathon — water station (since 1995)
30+ years of volunteering at the Twin Cities Marathon. ~25 employees volunteer. Tom Sr. has volunteered every year since 1995. Family tradition.
Mary Jo Copeland’s Sharing + Caring Hands (since 2003)
Annual donation + employee volunteer days. Sharing + Caring Hands serves homeless + low-income Twin Cities residents. Direct community impact.
Boys + Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities (since 1998)
$12k/year + workshop hosting. We host quarterly hands-on workshops for Boys + Girls Clubs members at our Edina store. Building DIY skills with kids.
Minneapolis Park + Recreation Foundation (since 2011)
$8k/year. Twin Cities parks are a community treasure; we contribute to their preservation + programming. Park-system improvements.
South Minneapolis Boys + Girls Wrestling Tournament (since 1998)
Annual event sponsor. Equipment donations + team meal sponsorship. Tom Holloway Sr. wrestled in high school; Tom Jr. continues family connection.
St. Paul Children’s Hospital (since 2004)
$10k annual + employee volunteer hours. Workshop space sometimes used for hospital’s family programming. Long-term partnership with one of Twin Cities most respected institutions.
Community programs we run
Beyond donations
Free workshops + repair clinics
20+ free workshops a year. Repair clinics every Saturday at South Minneapolis store. Building DIY skill in our community. Doesn’t generate direct revenue; pure community contribution.
Senior accessibility consultations (free)
Free 90-minute consultations for seniors aging in place. Universal design products, simple home modifications, accessibility-friendly tool selection. Especially valuable for Twin Cities’ aging population.
Twin Cities Public Schools partnership
We host school field trips (3-5 per year). We donate equipment to MPS + SPPS shop classes. Scholarship for trade-program graduates. Investment in next generation of Twin Cities craftspeople.
Veteran-friendly hiring
12% of our workforce is military veterans (vs. ~6% Twin Cities average). Specific outreach to MN-area veterans. Tom Holloway Jr.’s grandfather served in WWII; family priority.
Disaster response (locally)
Twin Cities flooding (2010), tornado relief (2011), fires + storms. We’ve loaned tools + provided supplies + workshop space. Always responsive when neighbors need help.
Bilingual customer service
Spanish-speaking customer service available at all 3 stores. ~22% of South Minneapolis customers speak Spanish primarily. We hire bilingually. Important for serving full community.
Twin Cities specifics
Why our community matters
Multi-generation customers
Some Twin Cities families have been Holloway customers for 4 generations (matching our family generations). The Bennetts brought their parents in 1972; their children in 1998; now their grandchildren in 2025. That continuity matters.
Independent Twin Cities economy
Twin Cities has a strong independent business + co-op tradition. We’re part of that fabric — alongside Wedge Co-op, Mississippi Market, local restaurants, family diners. Independent + locally-owned business density is a Twin Cities feature.
Twin Cities historic homes
Twin Cities has many 1880s-1940s homes. They need restoration parts + period-appropriate hardware. We stock for them. Our St. Paul store has the deepest restoration inventory in the metro.
Cool-climate gardening community
Twin Cities has a strong gardening community despite cool climate. Master Gardeners, Community Gardens, Neighborhood Gardens. We supply + advise + host events for them.
Twin Cities trades community
Strong local trades — plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters. Many trained at MPS + SPPS vocational programs. Many shop at Holloway. We’re part of the trades fabric.
Active community organizing
Twin Cities has tradition of active community organizing — neighborhood associations, urban planning, community-supported agriculture. We support + sometimes participate. Healthy civic engagement.
How to engage
If you want to partner
Nonprofit partnership inquiries
Twin Cities-area 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Email community@hollowayhardware.com. We typically support partnerships that align with our values: education, community development, accessibility, environmental, veteran support.
Charity auction donations
We donate $100-$500 gift cards to ~30 Twin Cities charity auctions per year. Email auctions@hollowayhardware.com with auction details + 501(c)(3) status. Lead time 4 weeks.
Workshop hosting requests
Schools, scout troops, senior centers, community groups. We can host workshops at our stores or co-host at your location. Email events@hollowayhardware.com.
Field trip + school visit hosting
Local elementary + middle schools. Pre-arrange with Sarah Holloway. Free field trips with hands-on workshop component. ~5 per year.
Event sponsorship requests
Community events, fundraisers, neighborhood festivals. Email events@hollowayhardware.com with event details. We sponsor 30+ events per year.
Employee giving + volunteering
Our employees volunteer 1,200+ hours per year through Holloway-supported programs. Employees nominate organizations they’re passionate about; we evaluate + support. Email Sarah Holloway for nomination process.
Community questions
What partners + customers ask
- Mission alignment with our values (education, community development, accessibility, environment, veterans). Twin Cities geographic focus. 501(c)(3) status for monetary donations. Long-term relationships preferred over one-time. Sarah Holloway evaluates inquiries; significant commitments approved by Tom Jr. + family.