Luv Handlz benefits monthly local charity selection with every froyo serving
Customers might not expect a disco party when they donate a few cents. But at froyo store Luv Handlz, every small donation mandates a party song, cheering and colorful lights. Taite Paradise | Staff Photohgrapher
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During Syracuse local Debbie Garvey’s first time at Luv Handlz, she found herself in the middle of a dance party filled with disco lights and flashing colors. Her froyo outing with her seven-year-old grandson and husband quickly turned into a charitable contribution complete with singing and dancing.
Debbie said she wanted to experience it again because she knew her money was helping others.
“It’s important to set a standard for your children and grandchildren, and hopefully generations to come to understand that giving is an important part of your life,” Debbie said.
When customers pay for their frozen yogurt at Luv Handlz, the business matches the tax for each purchase and donates it to the customer’s pick of one of four charities of the month. Customers are also given the option to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar and put that money toward an organization of their choosing.
This month’s charities include Eastwood Christmas Giveaway, Impactful steps Inc., ASA Basketball Syracuse and Global Medical Brigades at Syracuse University.
If they round up, a disco ball flashes red, blue and green lights while the cashier plays an upbeat song.
Choosing to round up your purchase at Luv Handlz feels like a party within itself, encouraging customers to support that month’s organizations, manager Sonia Lefebvre said.
“My heart has always been asking, ‘How can I serve, what can I do next?,’” Lefebvre, who has worked at the store since 2023, said. “So to jump into something where I get to do it every day in every transaction, it just makes it that much easier to get up and go to work.”
Since owner Jimmy Doyle opened the store in 2022, Luv Handlz has chosen four local charities to support each month. As of Nov. 1, Luv Handlz has donated nearly $72,000 to charities and organizations all over Syracuse, Lefebvre said.
From supporting school groups like Henninger High School’s senior class to local charities like Syracuse Fire Department’s Operation Warm, Lefebvre said Luv Handlz chooses nearby organizations to “bring awareness to the goodness that is happening in Syracuse.”
While the matched tax amounts and donations from a froyo purchase may not feel big at the time, they can be significant when added up, Lefebvre said.
As one of the four October charities, SU’s Alpha Xi Delta chapter partnered with Luv Handlz for their national philanthropy, The Kindly Hearts Initiative.
The Kindly Hearts Initiative is the blanket term to describe AXiD’s philanthropies that support two key impact organizations.
The chapter supports FosterClub, a peer support group for foster care youth, and StandUp for Kids, which aims to prevent the cycle of youth homelessness.
Diana Creaser, junior and vice president of philanthropy for SU’s chapter of AXiD, first approached Luv Handlz in September with the idea to partner with her sorority’s philanthropy during one of her many Weightless Wednesday visits. Weightless Wednesday is a promotion where Luv Handlz’s froyo is one set price instead of being priced by the weight.
A month later, Luv Handlz added AXiD’s The Kindly Hearts Initiative to the list of charities for customers to donate to.
“It meant a lot to know that we were raising funds for a good cause, and were able to do it together with the Syracuse community while supporting a small business,” Creaser said.
After a month of customers giving to their initiative, Creaser said the chapter raised $550 in donations from Luv Handlz alone.
In addition to support from the Luv Handlz community, AXiD hosted a sisterhood event at the shop for chapter members to try the froyo.
For Debbie, the taxes matched or cents rounded up on a purchase of $4 froyo prove that every little bit helps, and even if it’s a small contribution, it still makes a world of difference.
“A business like this that is bringing an eye to not only what they’re doing as far as froyo, but the fact that they’re so supportive of business beyond them, like charities in the local area, is wonderful,” Tom Garvey, Debbie’s husband, said.
For Tayah and Antoin Montgomery of Fayetteville, rounding up on their purchase is part of every Luv Handlz visit.
“It feels good to round up here because the dance party makes me feel like a great person,” Tayah said.
When Tayah chose to round up her purchase of two frozen yogurts, Lefebvre queued Shaggy and Rik Rok’s “It Wasn’t Me” to celebrate the donation.
The ceiling lights changed, flashing colors to the beat of the song. Tayah, Antoin and their two-year-old daughter enjoyed a dance-off before tasting their froyo.
The intent behind their business model goes beyond transactions and selling froyo to customers, Lefebvre said. She said she hopes customers leave feeling better than they did coming in.
“We try to give a fun farewell before you go out the door, it can help set us apart a little bit and gives a little more purpose as to why we’re truly here, which is to serve the community,” Lefebvre said.
