Heartware Stories

Small towns do not always have access to the resources they need to stimulate growth in the community. In the case of Loomis, California, former resident Greg Brening believed he could help the town by opening Loomis Ace Hardware.

The Woodbury Food Bank is a vital lifeline for families in need. As an organization that is dependent on volunteers and donations from the local community, the food bank desperately needed support to help repair and maintain its facilities. The teams at Ace Hardware of Woodbury, Connecticut, and Ace Handyman Services of Northwestern CT stepped up to the challenge.

Managing an Ace Hardware store in a small community carries a special responsibility. For Traci Barboza, Manager of Rancho Ace Hardware in Ocean View, Hawaii, her community relies on her to be a handyman, a mother, a cook, a leader, and a friend to those in need. And when Traci had a health concern of her own, the community was there for her as well.

A good work ethic and a good attitude are two of best qualities a manager could hope to find in a team member. Inside, we all hope our hard work and dedication will be recognized. For Raymond, that recognition came from a customer who saw a chance to help.

Hearing the word slavery conjures a very dark period in history. People think that time has passed, but the reality is people are sold into slavery, more commonly known today as human trafficking, every single day. People — women, men and children — get abducted, right off the street, all the time, often never heard from again. They're sold into a dark underworld and, in many cases, forced to do unspeakable things. Estimates show 20 million to 40 million people globally are victims of modern slavery and less than 1% of survivors get identified.