03-04-2025
Goshen Gives Back at First Fridays
GOSHEN — Downtown Goshen First Fridays is back this Friday, and small businesses downtown are donating 10% of proceeds to local shelters, organizations, and programs that help keep the Goshen community safe, healthy, and united.
Goshen Gives Back, the theme for this month's event, will be held from 5-9 p.m. and bars, restaurants, activities and stores have chosen organizations and causes in the community they are supporting.
First Friday encourages attendees to mix it up by going to different places and contributing to the variety of causes and organizations that help the community grow and help friends and neighbors.
'Goshen Gives Back brings people downtown for First Fridays fun, eating, and shopping, and it includes a built-in component of charitable giving,' said First Fridays Director Amanda Rose.
The event always welcomes families to participate in kid-friendly activities. This First Fridays event invites children to join The Goshen Historical Museum, 124 S. Main St., to view artwork by John Blosser. Families can also enjoy free kids activities and complimentary treats at Garden City Church, located at 134 S. Main. The Tropicana Ice Cream and Wiener Shack food trucks will also be at Goshen Gives Back.
'Participating downtown locations will donate a percentage of their sales during the event to a partner charity,' Rose said. 'So just by attending and spending money at participating businesses, folks will also be supporting local nonprofit organizations. This is a special event on our calendar because it purely demonstrates the sense of unity, community spirit, and giving back that prevails in Goshen and Elkhart County.'
Businesses participating include:
— Axes & Antics, 616-3 W. Lincoln Ave., donates to The Post Youth Center
— Biebs & Ash, 133 S. Main St., donates to Phoenix Performing Arts
— Common Spirits, 111 E. Lincoln Ave., donates to the Cora Dale House
— Electric Brew, 118 E. Washington St., donates to the Boys & Girls Club
— Elephant Bar, 227 S. Main St., donates to Goshen Pride
— Hive of Light, 119 S. Main St., donates to Art House
— Maple City Market, 314 S. Main St., donates to the Center for Healing and Hope
— Maple Indian Cuisine, 127 S. Main St., donates to Downtown Goshen Inc.
— Table @ 108, 108 N. Main St., donates to Phoenix Performing Arts
— The Green Bee, 111 E. Washington St., donates to the Goshen Farmers Market
— Found, 208 S. Main St., donates 10% of its First Fridays event sales to the Goshen Historical Society.
— Shirley's Gourmet Popcorn, 106 N. Main St., donates 10% to Ryan's Place, a nonprofit organization that provides grief support to children, teens and families.
— Woldruff's Footwear & Apparel, 129 S. Main St., Ribbon of Hope
— Fables Books, 215 S. Main St., The Window
— Goshen Brewing Co., 315 W. Washington St., Goshen Theater
In addition to donating 10% of its First Fridays sales to The Window, Fables Books will have a Meet the Author event from 6 to 8 p.m. featuring Amanda K. Gross, Marie Lee, and Meredith Oswalt, who are all authors with powerful stories of resilience, justice, and transformation.
