About
Third World Friends (TWF) is a thrift store whose donations and income are collected for the poor in developing countries. In this community-based enterprise, the store receives donations of clothing and goods from residents in the surrounding communities, volunteers separate the items to be shipped abroad from those to be sold in-store, and shipped items are sent by semi-trailer loads to their destinations abroad.
The intent of TWF is to collect usable clothing, goods and funds for the poorest of the poor, while at the same time raising awareness for those who donate, volunteer and are otherwise touched by the organization.
The goods sold at TWF generate the funds needed to ship the 9 – 40 foot containers of clothing and goods annually, to create a financial pool from which micro loans can be made in developing countries and to help in the support of one full-time and one part-time employee who coordinate the volunteer efforts.
Since 1987, TWF has shipped over 1,170 tons of clothing with the estimated value of $5,500,000. Additionally, the funds made available for the micro loan purposes totals more than $1,800,000.
Operating in this way, TWF serves communities in Nicaragua, several of the former Soviet States, areas in the US and Minnesota. Since it conception in 1987, TWF has served thousands of persons in need globally, while receiving donated and items and funds from individuals throughout southeastern Minnesota. It provides a unique resource which establishes a means for local residents to connect with people who are in need and, generally, out of our consciousness. TWF thus serves as a teaching organization, a peacemaker and a significant resouce for Third World populations.
TWF is the innovation of Harold and Louise Nielsen of Kenyon, Minnesota, who continue to administer the operations of TWF to the present. No strangers to philanthropy, Harold and Louise also founded Winds of Peace Foundation, a grantmaking and micolending organization which functions primarily in Nicaragua.