How many of you in our community have been a part of a community doing fundraising? At some point in our lives, I’m sure most of us have been involved in one activity or another dealing with fundraising. Well, I’d like to offer you another option. Maybe you’ve never heard of Three Rivers Fundraising owned by Kirk and Jill Wyant residing here in Franklin on River Street.
I asked Kirk why and how he got started in business? Kirk stated, “I worked for Goldstar Farms and Wholesale Nurseries in Canterbury, New Hampshire. The owner, Arthur Jack, had a Christmas tree export company and wanted to expand. I went up to Northern Maine and did research about making stuff in that area and then the next year we went up and built a building and started a shop making wreaths. Every year it grew and I stayed there until 1990 working for Arthur. We expanded from our first year selling 5000 wreaths and then later up to 350,000. His business was changing, and he decided to retire. At that point, I felt it was a good time to start my own business”.
He continued, “In 1991 I began working for myself. I had shops up in Maine and I went up there every year and stayed for four weeks building and shipping my products. Finally, in the early 2000’s, I moved it back here because labor was getting hard to come by up there. We rented in Concord, at Sunnycrest Apple Orchard up on Autumn Drive and various other places all over and eventually we built a building down on River Street, in Franklin, and started making them there.
We have had various helpers working for us, from Jamaicans after they finished picking apples, to refugees sponsored by the Lutheran social service. We have used local help as well.
I have my shop here and I still have one up there. We make a lot of things. We make wreaths. Sometimes we also donate wreaths, such as the large wreaths displayed on the wheel in Trestle View Park in town during Christmas.
During the season, we employ probably 40 people making wreaths between here and our other shops. In addition to our fundraising business, we also sell wholesale. We supply garden centers from here to Maryland, such as the Osborne farm stores from here, and other garden centers all the way down to Maryland.
In our fundraising efforts, we direct-ship and are completely contactless using our website ThreeRiversFundraising.com to support groups from pet rescue leagues, the Boy Scouts, high school bands, and other different organizations. Mill City Park has been a customer for years.”
As I have previously mentioned, Kirk has been a significant member of the greater Franklin community. Over the years, his company has built a fundraising and wholesale business and helps the community with raising money. What is an absolute necessity in raising money is that they help your group get set up, they help with money collection, and they ship directly to where you want the product delivered. Most importantly, after the program ends, your money will be in your hands in about two weeks.
Whether you want one product like the wreaths, bulbs, plants or a mix, they will come up with an easy program for every season to add dollars to your favorite organization. I believe an opportunity like this is one you don’t want to ignore. Visit their website (mentioned earlier), or call 603 934-1995 and explore how your group will be able to get the same excellent service and purchasing power as does your local garden center.