The Ampersand Inn is integrally involved with the Sussex County community and we enjoy including our guests in our philanthropy and volunteerism. If you are affiliated with a not-for-profit organization in Sussex County and would like to collaborate, please contact us to discuss your ideas.
Charity Gift Card Program:
Charity gift cards, purchased by the Innkeeper, are given to each guest to donate to the not-for-profit organization of the guest’s choice. Tisbest’s database includes thousands of not-for-profit organizations that seek to improve human, civil, juvenile, immigration, veteran and animal rights; housing, food, and conservation efforts; and medical and educational institutions, among others. The combination of Ampersand dollars and our guests’ philanthropic choices resulted in over $28,000 contributions to charitable organizations during our first 2.5 years of Inn ownership. In early 2025, Tisbest will launch a “giving code” that will include exclusively Sussex County charitable organizations for those guests who wish to give locally. Our goal to “do well and do good” is happening!
Project Self-Sufficiency:
The Ampersand supports PSS’s holiday gift program by asking guests to bring a $20 gift appropriate for a teen boy or girl –those hardest to buy for! Guests who bring a teen gift will get a $20 credit on their Ampersand stay. Please ask us for a suggested list of teen gifts and share in the joy of giving!
The Weekend Bag Program:
The Weekend Bag Program, now in its ninth year, supports over 280 Sussex County students in 24 schools who suffer from food insecurity and lack of personal hygiene products. Participating students can pick up a weekend bag anonymously and all the products are non-perishable and can be prepared without adult assistance.
The Weekend Bag Program founder, Isobel Costello, graduated from Newton High School in 2020, and the entire Costello family (sisters Olivia & Magdalen and parents Dawn & John) has continued this program for nine years. The Ampersand Inn asks guests to bring a food or hygiene product for our collection basket and a list of suggested items is included in the guest booking confirmation email. It is a privilege for the Inn to collaborate with this grass-roots initiative and we are grateful to our guests for their contributions to this worthy cause.
Foodshed Alliance:
The mission of the Foodshed Alliance is to train farmers, purchase farming equipment, and provide farmers’ markets for needy families. The cost of an Ampersand room includes breakfast for two adults, so when one guest occupies a room or a guest vacates before breakfast, the value of those meals is donated to The Foodshed Alliance.
Fundraiser Support: The Ampersand supports local fundraisers. The roster of free night donations (70) includes: The Shining Stars Network, Karen Quinlan Hospice Center, Kittatinny Regional High School, Project Self-Sufficiency, Father John’s Animal Shelter, Newton Theater, Birthhaven, DASI, Benny’s Bodega, Ginnie’s House, Sussex County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce, the Patty Green Foundation, Sparta Arts Council, NJ Blues Society, among others.
Meeting Space at the Ampersand: Not-for-profit organizations that do not have their own facilities are welcome to meet at the Inn. We can accommodate small groups that have the flexibility to meet during the noon to 3pm timeframe, before guests check in. We are also eager to host small groups from senior living centers, who may seek a 2-3 hour “outing” to each lunch, play cards, watch the birds and nature that surrounds the Inn. If your group would like to meet at the Ampersand, please contact us.
Support for Charitable Organization Leaders: The Inn would like to donate free nights, Sunday through Thursday, to not-for-profit leaders who want to acknowledge the good work of their employees and volunteers. Since these organizations do not have the budget to provide gifts, the Inn is eager to provide leaders with a way to give their loyal and hardworking colleagues a night away in a beautiful room coupled with a three-course breakfast the following morning.