The Community Project Discount Store at 710 Main Street in Rochester has had a small start but big dreams, and an even bigger heart.

Owner Jared Howard has always lived in the Rochester area but never appreciated 'small town living' until taking over the thrift shop from Mike Williams in 2020. Jared's passion for giving back to the community sparked from there and has yet to be extinguished, despite the challenges. 

The Community Project Discount Store is not your average thrift shop, giving 30% of all sales to local charities. 

Jared says he carefully keeps track of things to make sure every penny gets donated to the organizations as promised. 

Despite running the store by himself most of the time and not making a profit some of the time, it's Jared's dreams that keep him going.