Happy Tuesday, and welcome back to Positive DONUT.

Today's edition features a free community store, a plethora of Dolly Partons, a mindfulness meditation, and much more.

Sit back, relax, enjoy—and have a fantastic rest of your week! 🥰

–Kailyn

Ready, Set, Go: Today’s newsletter should be a ~3.24 minute read (862 words).

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My mind is clear and ready for the day ahead

In New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, there’s a 9,000-sq-ft store where you can pick up clothes, furniture, books, food, and household goods without ever reaching for your wallet. And somehow, free stuff isn’t even the best part.

The New Orleans Free Store operates out of an abandoned former Family Dollar that, from the outside, looks like it’s seen better days. Twice a week, neighbors line up to browse racks and bins filled with donated goods, with many sticking around for art classes, punk shows, free STI testing and other medical care, and more.

Sometimes, they even turn the whole place into a roller rink?

A little something for everyone...The store grew out of the Greater New Orleans Caring Collective, which founder Dan Bingler started after organizing grocery deliveries, meals, and laundry help for neighbors during the pandemic.

• After Hurricane Ida brought an influx of donations, Bingler struck a deal to use the vacant Family Dollar rent-free in exchange for covering utilities and maintaining the property.
• Three years later, the “business” is thriving—and it's become something much bigger than a place to grab necessities.

On the twice-a-week free shopping days, families hunt for school clothes and neighbors browse for household treasures, while local volunteers sort donations and serve food. On skate nights, the lights dim, industrial fans whir, and residents roll around the polished concrete floor having a blast.

It’s all about connection: The Lower Ninth Ward still has empty lots and abandoned storefronts more than two decades after Hurricane Katrina, with residents describing limited access to basics like groceries and medicine.

The Free Store can’t fix all of that; but it can turn one empty building into a one-stop shop where neighbors find what they need, have some fun, and get to know each other.

Founder Dan hopes his concept could eventually roll into vacant storefronts elsewhere.

A great wardrobe is measured not by how much you own, but by the quality and versatility of each piece. Quince brings both together with elevated essentials made from premium materials that are designed to work beyond one outfit.

The Bella Stretch Wide Leg Jeans bring a flattering ’70s-inspired shape in soft, flexible denim, while the 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman V-Neck Sweater adds a classic knit you can easily dress up or down. They’re the kind of staples you can keep building outfits around.

💖 Fans in New Orleans broke out the rhinestones and country tunes to celebrate Dolly Parton Day on September 25 (aka 9-25). The Big Easy joined communities around the country in celebrating the widely beloved singer and songwriter, who passed away in late August.

🃏 Two San Diego teens created Tumor Tactics, a Pokémon-inspired card game that teaches kids about cancer treatments and makes a scary subject easier to understand. The game has already demonstrated a jump in kids' cancer knowledge after playing.

🕺 Britain’s oldest dancer is still getting his groove on at 100. Bernard Gilbert recently led 200+ people in a massive flash mob to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, crediting 90 years of dancing with helping keep him physically and mentally fit.

😌 Worth a read: How the 20-5-3 rule can help boost your well-being.

Meditating regularly can have some incredible effects on our minds and bodies. While there are many different kinds of meditations, my favorites are typically visualization, where the world comes to life in our mind’s eye.

When you have a spare five minutes this week, try out this White Light Visualization Meditation—I’m certain you’ll feel just that little bit better by the end. 🥰

Try it out.

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Welcome to What’s Your Win?, the section of the newsletter where we celebrate all the good news happening right here in our Positive DONUT community. Big or small, there's always something to celebrate; help us out by submitting your own wins.

Check out this week's submissions:

💪 Mel G. from MO is proof that hard work pays off:

• “I was tasked with transforming our larger conference room to accommodate a high-profile client meeting after it became clear that our designated client meeting space was too small. With less than four weeks to complete the project, I successfully coordinated with multiple vendors and stakeholders, including painters, IT, office furniture providers, and installation teams for new whiteboards and accessories. Through careful planning and execution, I delivered a refreshed, fully functional meeting space on time, ensuring a professional environment for our client visit.”

📚 Deana L from FL is pouring back into her community:

• “I recently attended a meeting for the Friends of the Melbourne library in Florida. There is an amazing group of volunteers who keep the small book store stocked beautifully, creating hand crafted dolls, donating books, and making donations in memory of loved ones, thereby raising funds for children and adult programs. I am amazed at what they can do with so little. The staff at this library is amazing, and they all deserve a huge shout out –Thank You for all you do for our community! I am so happy to be a part of this group!”

(Some responses were slightly edited for length/clarity)

😴 The older I get, the more I marvel at my teenage self, who could get a solid night’s sleep on my best friend’s wood floor with a pillow and a dream. Now, sleep hygiene is at the top of my priority list, and Ugly Sleep Club makes catching Z’s a little easier. Its Collagen Mouth Tape is the world’s first mouth tape infused with derm-grade skincare, designed to support better sleep while giving your skin some overnight TLC. Two birds, one bedtime routine. Try it out with our exclusive discount. ✨

🤠 I’m all for supporting independent artists, and lately, I can’t get enough of NY singer-songwriter Gracie Lou's album, City Girl Country. Country-folk infused with a bit of pop, her tracks will have you tapping your toes and singing along in no time. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

✨Affiliate link. If you make a purchase, Positive DONUT earns a small commission at NO additional cost.

1. What is a group of cats called?
2. Which animal has a tongue that's twice the length of its body?
3. What is a female donkey called?

We want to hear from you!! No win is too small to celebrate. And who knows, your moment of gratitude just may inspire someone else to see the little wins in their life, too.

So what are you waiting for? Take a few seconds to think about what you have to celebrate in your life, and share it with us to be featured in a future newsletter.

Submit a win.

1. A clowder
2. A chameleon
3. A jenny

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