Lucky Stone feels fortunate to help area

HURON — A local company specializing in school spirit wear didn't let a pandemic crush its ever-optimistic enthusiasm for spreading goodwill. In March, when the state's stay-at-home order first went into effect, it shut down "non-essential" operations, which included small businesses like Huron-based Lucky Stone Uniforms, 607 Main St. What Lucky Stone produced and offered — high school-based apparel, custom embroidery and screen printing, alterations, shoe repairs and a line of Blauer public safety uniforms for area first responders — didn't qualify, under state rules, to remain open. So, shortly after this occurred, its co-owners, spouses Jenny and Joel Hagy, a city councilman, quickly evolved their business model, which, in turn, reclassified Lucky Stone as "essential." What changed: They decided to produce personal protective equipment, including masks, for area-wide usage. "We did this because we wanted to give back to our community and remain open so our employees (11 back then) could still get paid by us," Jenny said. "Our employees are very reliant on their paychecks, and anything we could do to keep our production going, we wanted to do." Already possessing some items in-house, the Hagys made a sizable investment to purchase additional equipment, namely two industrial-sized sewing machines, for making masks. "With what we were already doing, we had enough resources and the expertise to get it going," Jenny said. "Eventually, we will use this equipment for other things when, hopefully, COVID goes away." Throughout the past year, and still on a regular basis, nonprofits and organizations in need ask Lucky Stone for masks. "We will take anything someone wants to pay, but there is no requirement," Jenny said. Lucky Stone, in return, does ask for donations, either monetary or materials, like fabric. People, meanwhile, can also visit the store to buy or place an order for masks. To date, Lucky Stone has given away about 4,500 masks to businesses, schools, public safety agencies, hospitals and the Ohio Veterans Home. On a related note, Lucky Stone also worked with the Huron Chamber of Commerce to contribute $8,000 for other city-based businesses. The money went toward paying bills or meeting payroll. Lucky Stone wants to continue fundraisers for area schools, nonprofits and institutions. The Hagys coordinate those efforts on the store's website, luckystonepromotions.com. "Both Joel and I come from families who have always given back," Jenny said. Joel served in the U.S. Army for 36 years; his dad, Jesse, taught local students high school biology and health for 42 years; his mom, Lynn, worked as an Erie County health nurse; and Jenny's family has deep roots in civil service. "We want to continue our family's legacy of helping because we can," Jenny said. "It is in our blood to give back."