SPARK IN THE CITY
Facebook based nonprofit group branches out from Traverse City to Mt. Pleasant
The Traverse City based nonprofit organization, Spark in the Dark, will be opening a chapter in Mt. Pleasant.
Spark in the Dark is Facebook based group that connects those in need with housing items, clothing, and other items through Facebook posts. The group acts similarly to Facebook marketplace though users can donate and share items, and pick up the items directly. Currently, Executive Director and founder Abagail Mckiernan and her Mt. Pleasant-based administrators are in the process of making connections with other nonprofits so more resources may be available to users.
“We’re always open to making new friends,” Mckiernan said. “Potential users can join the group after answering a few questions.”
The nonprofit was founded in 2015. Mckiernan had previously been through some hardships and, after going to aw omen’s church and meeting others who were going through similar rough patches, came up with the idea for Spark in the Dark.
“I had this crazy dream to connect people and I started with 50 members at the start and we now have over 12,000 members,” Mckiernan said. “Membership grows by the 100s every month.”
Mckiernan wanted to open a branch of Spark in the Dark in Mt. Pleasant because she grew up in Beal City and has ties to connections to the community.
“I’m super excited to bring this to my hometown,” Mckiernan said. “There’s a strong community and strong nonprofit community in the area.”
The Mt. Pleasant branch will be opening Oct. 1 on Facebook.
For more information, sparkinthedark.org.