First Friday in Downtown TD puts money on students tonight; Kiwanis to match
File Photo - Jay Wilson displays a 1964 Shell Lego Truck at the store’s opening several years ago. Brick City Games is one of several businesses raising money for student projects tonight during the monthly First Friday event in The Dalles Downtown Core.
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 5, 2025 — Downtown businesses will extend hours to 8 p.m. tonight for a “Shop for Schools” fundraiser aimed at putting classroom tools directly in the hands of local students and teachers.
The effort is a partnership between The Dalles Main Street, participating merchants and the North Wasco County Education Foundation’s Classroom Mini-Grant Program. The Dalles Kiwanis Club will match proceeds from tonight’s campaign, effectively doubling donations generated at checkout counters across downtown.
Organizers say the money will support the foundation’s Classroom Mini-Grant Program, which since 2017 has funded nearly 100 projects districtwide. Grants typically range from $300 to $1,500 and are designed to meet practical, immediate needs — items that often fall outside regular school budgets but can have outsized impact in a single semester.
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Past purchases have included take-home books for early readers, ukuleles for music programs, hands-on science and robotics kits, SECRETS Science curriculum support, coding and technology tools, and assistance for field trips. Supporters say small awards at the classroom level allow educators to try novel approaches, supplement core materials and reach students who benefit from tactile and project-based learning.
Tonight’s “Shop for Schools” will channel a portion of sales from participating storefronts to the grant program, with Kiwanis’ match turning each dollar into two. Early commitments include Freebridge Brewing, Vibe Consignment, Brick City Games, Terra Cotta Gorge Co. and Burgerville. Additional shops are expected to participate as the weekend begins.
For residents, the pitch is straightforward: buy local during the events and the purchase helps fund classroom projects in North Wasco County. For downtown, the effort is timed to capture First Friday foot traffic while underscoring the role of small businesses in community philanthropy.
First Friday
First Friday has become a reliable economic driver for local retailers with later hours and coordinated promotions. Pairing that energy with a cause, organizers say, helps maintain momentum heading into the school year while giving shoppers a tangible reason to browse, dine and linger in the core.
