Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Tosa businesses team up for Halloween costume swap
WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Halloween costumes can be expensive, and they might not get worn more than once.
With that in mind, a pair of business owners and moms in Wauwatosa came up with an idea.
"These are good ones," Liz Joy said, going through several bins of Halloween costumes. " Little cat, little lion!"
Organizing more than 100 Halloween costumes takes some time.
"So cute!" exclaimed Danielle Scampini Linn.
It's also a whole lot of fun.
"It's been amazing! It's been just so great," Joy said.
Joy and Scampini Linn have been collecting all of these costumes for the last year.
From Darth Vader to princesses and more.
"I think there's a storm trooper over there, too," Scampini Linn said.
"Yeah, we had a couple of Moana ones that were like brand new," she said.
So many costumes to choose from.
"Oh my gosh, there's this Strawberry Shortcake Halloween costume that was so cute," Joy said of one of her favorites.
Joy got the idea after Halloween last year, to get donated costumes and hold a costume swap this year.
"I called Danielle up and she immediately, like 100%, I'm in," she said.
"I was like, this is a no-brainer, Scampini Linn added.
Scampini Linn owns Little Geese Shop in the Tosa Village, which primarily sells pre-loved things.
"Secondhand, especially for kids, is all the rage. And it should be," she said of her store.
So she had room to store the costumes.
Joy owns Joy Ice Cream Social, the perfect place to host the community costume swap.
"This community is so great. All of the small businesses work together," she said.
So after everything was organized, on Oct. 2, they hosted the first community costume shop at the ice cream shop and gave all of the donated costumes away for free.
"Just find a costume that makes you smile and it's yours," Joy said.
Business owners and friends working together to spread a little joy to their community.
"That is truly the Tosa way, I feel like," Scampini Linn said.
Everyone who donated got a free scoop of ice cream at Joy Ice Cream Social and coupons to Little Geese Shop.
Any leftover costumes are being donated to Milwaukee Public Schools so they can give them out to kids who might need one.
For more information on Joy Ice Cream Social, click here, or Little Geese Shop, click here.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].