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Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Store: Where Compassion is the Currency

By Tom Barnas
6/13/2025

Step inside Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Store—a unique, pop-up shopping experience where small acts of kindness are all you need to take home garden-inspired gifts. As part of the brand’s national Lots of Compassion initiative, this immersive event turns empathy into action and transforms communities by converting vacant lots into flourishing gardens.

How It Works:

At the Compassion Store, there’s no need for cash or cards—compassion is your currency. Visitors can complete heartfelt acts like writing a note to a friend, setting a self-compassion goal, or sharing a moment of gratitude. In return, guests receive thoughtful take-home items such as plants or Mrs. Meyer’s Compassion Flower Hand Soap—goodies meant to inspire compassion in their own homes and neighborhoods.

This one-of-a-kind store is more than just a feel-good experience—it’s a continuation of Mrs. Meyer’s Lots of Compassion program, a five-year, $1 million commitment to transform unused urban spaces into vibrant gardens that spark community growth. The store returns to its roots in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, home to the very first Lots of Compassion garden created in partnership with Emerald South.

Why It Matters:

A recent study found that two-thirds of Americans believe the U.S. suffers from a “Compassion Gap.” While 90% want to support their communities in meaningful ways, only 1 in 4 actually take action. With participation in community events declining from 50% to 30% in the past decade, there’s an urgent need for accessible, impactful ways to turn good intentions into real change.

Local and National Impact:

The Compassion Store helps bridge this gap by offering an easy and inspiring way to engage. It’s not just about giving—it’s about growing. Through every product and interaction, Mrs. Meyer’s helps cultivate the goodness of the garden and spread it across neighborhoods nationwide.

For every Compassion Flower product sold at MrsMeyers.com, Walmart, and Walmart.com, $1 is donated (up to $200,000 annually) to support community garden projects around the country.

Get Involved:

Through June 16, individuals can apply or nominate a local organization to receive a grant to help transform vacant lots into community gardens. Visit MrsMeyers.com/compassion to learn more and help bring compassion to life in your neighborhood.

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