Support Our Vision: Be Part of Belle Inn's Story

Belle Inn is taking shape, and we'd love for you to be part of the journey. We're thoughtfully transforming a historic Iowa home into a welcoming retreat where quiet comfort, rest, creativity, and meaningful experiences come together. Our vision is to create a place that honors the past while embracing accessibility, inclusion, and the needs of today's travelers. We believe the best places aren't created all at once. They evolve through thoughtful choices, shared ideas, and a little help from friends and neighbors.

There are several ways you can help us bring Belle Inn to life:

Explore Our Amazon Wish Lists

From cozy guest rooms and inviting reading spaces to creative activities and peaceful gardens, the little details help make Belle Inn special. We've created Amazon Wish Lists featuring carefully selected items that will help us furnish, equip, and personalize these spaces. Whether it's a book, a puzzle, a practical essential, or a thoughtful finishing touch, each gift will become part of the experience we share with our guests.

Give Something Special a New Home

Not everything beautiful or useful needs to be new. We love pieces with history, personality, and a sense of place, especially those that celebrate Iowa and the communities around us. Perhaps you have a vintage Iowa coffee mug, an interesting piece of local memorabilia, a favorite book, or a quality piece of furniture that deserves a new chapter. We would love to decorate with more handmade items - cross stitch, crewel, pottery, intarsia and quilts fit our decor perfectly .

We're happy to consider donations of furniture and other items in excellent condition that complement Belle Inn's character and needs. We especially appreciate the opportunity to reuse and repurpose well-loved treasures, keeping useful items out of landfills while adding warmth and individuality to our spaces.

A Note About Donated Items: For the safety and comfort of our guests, we are unable to accept donated electrical or electronic items, including lamps, appliances, and other plug-in devices. All donated furnishings and accessories must be clean, in good condition, and suitable for use in a guest environment. We appreciate your understanding as we thoughtfully select items that meet Belle Inn's needs and standards.

Have something in mind? Send us a photo and a little information about it. We'll be happy to see whether it's a good fit. Email it to penny@belleinniowa.com.

Help Make Belle Inn More Accessible

An important part of our vision is ensuring that more people have the opportunity to experience a restful and welcoming stay. Because Belle Inn is located in a historic home, accessibility improvements require thoughtful planning and investment. We're preparing a crowdfunding campaign to help install an elevator connecting the main and second floors, making four of our five guest rooms accessible without navigating stairs. Along with planned improvements to the property's entrance and bathrooms, this project will help us welcome guests with a broader range of mobility needs. Our accessibility crowdfunding campaign is coming soon. We look forward to sharing our plans and inviting the community to help us open more doors.

Small Gestures. Lasting Impact.

A vintage mug that sparks a conversation. A book that finds another reader. A comfortable chair that becomes someone's favorite quiet corner. An elevator that makes a long-awaited getaway possible. Every thoughtful contribution helps shape the character, comfort, and accessibility of Belle Inn. And support isn't limited to gifts. Sharing our story, introducing us to potential collaborators, and helping others discover Belle Inn are meaningful ways to participate, too. Thank you for helping us create a place where more people can rest, recharge, and feel welcome.

Help Build Belle Inn & Studios

It Takes a Community to Create Comfort

Belle Inn & Studios is more than a lodging business. It is a dream inspired by my grandmother, Grammie Belle, who taught me that comfort is created through simple acts of care—a warm meal, a handmade quilt, a good book, a rocking chair, and a place where people feel welcome.

Our mission is to create a restorative lodging experience for travelers, caregivers, medical travelers, veterans, people living with chronic illness, neurodivergent guests, and anyone who simply needs a place to rest.

As we work to transform a former commercial building in Lisbon, Iowa into a place of calm, quiet, and belonging, many people have asked how they can help.

While financial support is always appreciated, there are many other ways to contribute. Donations of furnishings, books, artwork, supplies, and skilled labor will help us create a warm and welcoming environment while preserving resources for accessibility improvements and guest comfort features.

Donation Guidelines

Donations are accepted by appointment only.

Please contact us before dropping off any items. This helps us ensure we have space available, confirm the item is needed, and arrange a convenient time for inspection and delivery.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept unannounced drop-offs.

Photos are appreciated for larger items such as furniture, artwork, décor, and appliances.

Large furniture donations must be pre-approved and accompanied by photos and dimensions.

All donated items are subject to inspection upon arrival and may be declined if they do not meet current needs, safety standards, or condition requirements.

Belle Inn & Studios is a for-profit organization. Donations are voluntary gifts to support the creation of a restorative lodging experience and are not tax-deductible charitable contributions.

🪑 Furniture & Furnishings

We welcome quality wood furniture in excellent condition, including:

Queen bed frames
Matching bedroom sets
Nightstands
Low, long dressers
Armoires
Small kitchen tables with two chairs
Farmhouse dining tables
Dining chairs with arms
Wooden desks and desk chairs
Sideboards and buffets
Baker's racks
Bookshelves
Rocking chairs
Accent chairs with arms
End tables
Console tables
Entry benches
Coat racks
Quilt racks
Umbrella stands

We are especially interested in complete or matching sets whenever possible.

🍽️ Kitchen & Dining

Help us create kitchens that feel like home.

Cookware sets
Pots and pans
Dutch ovens
Stock pots
Mixing bowls
Measuring cups and spoons
Baking sheets
Muffin tins
Cake and pie pans
Cookie sheets
Casserole dishes
Serving bowls
Serving platters
Pitchers
Canister sets
Rolling pins
Biscuit cutters
Colanders
Whisks
Tongs
Spatulas
Ladles
Serving spoons
Vegetable peelers
Graters
Matching silverware sets
Longaberger baskets
Handmade baskets
Bread baskets
Full-length aprons

⚡ New or Like-New Appliances

We may accept select appliances that are unused, recently manufactured, and in excellent working condition, including:

Microwaves
Coffee makers
Electric kettles
White noise machines
Electric can openers
Electric pencil sharpeners

Items must:

Be clean and in excellent condition
Have no damaged cords or plugs
Include safety labels
Be recently manufactured
Meet current safety standards

🧵 Handmade & Creative Items

Many of the comforts at Belle Inn will come from the hands of talented makers.

Handmade quilts
Lap quilts
Afghans
Handmade needlework
Yarn
Knitting needles
Crochet hooks
Sewing supplies
Craft storage baskets

We also welcome unopened craft kits, including:

Latch hook kits
Cross-stitch kits
Embroidery kits
Needlepoint kits
Macramé kits
Paint-by-number kits
Diamond art kits
Beginner knitting or crochet kits

Handmade Kitchen Comforts

New handmade pot holders
New handmade trivets
New handmade dish cloths
New handmade hot pads
Handmade tea cozies
Handmade bowl cozies
Handmade table runners

📚 Books & Reading

We are building Georgianna's Reading Room and welcome books in the following categories:

Beach reads and feel-good fiction
Classics
Nature and gardening
Local history and local authors
Mystery and cozy mystery
Romance
Crafts and creativity
Wellness and personal growth
Travel and adventure
Inspiration and encouragement

👓 Accessibility & Low-Vision Items

New magnifying reading sheets
New handheld magnifiers
New, unopened nonprescription reading glasses
Large-print books
Large-print playing cards
Book stands
New reading pillows

🧩 Recreation & Quiet Activities

Puzzles
Board games
Adult coloring books
Colored pencils
Craft books
Sudoku books
Word search books
Crossword books
Journals and notebooks
Puzzle sorting trays

🌿 Plants & Nature

Plants are an important part of the restorative environment we hope to create.

Ceramic plant pots
Decorative planters
Plant stands
Window plant shelves
Watering cans
Indoor plant care supplies

🎨 Local Art & History

We would love to showcase Iowa's beauty and heritage throughout the inn.

Iowa landscape paintings
Local artist artwork
Nature photography
Historic maps
Vintage postcards
Framed historical photographs
Rural and agricultural scenes
Local history publications

☔ Hospitality & Guest Comfort

The little details often make the biggest difference.

Quality umbrellas
Welcome baskets
Decorative trays
Magazine racks

🔨 Skilled Labor & Professional Services

Donations of time and talent are incredibly valuable.

Examples include:

Painting
Minor carpentry
Hanging doors
Furniture assembly
Installing door hardware
Replacing light fixtures
Hanging acoustic panels
Mounting shelves
Hanging artwork
Accessibility modifications
Landscaping
Photography
Videography
Deep cleaning
Moving assistance

Items We Are Not Accepting

To ensure a safe, hygienic, and consistent guest experience, we are not accepting:

Used sheets
Used towels
Used pillows
Mattresses
Broken or damaged items
Items with smoke, mildew, or strong odors
Outdated electronics
Appliances with damaged cords or missing parts
Older electrical items that cannot be verified as safe

As a general rule, items that come into close contact with guests' faces, eyes, bedding, or bodies should be new.

Every Contribution Matters

Whether it's a rocking chair, a favorite book, a handmade quilt, a set of mixing bowls, a historic photograph, a ceramic planter, a handcrafted trivet, or a few hours of volunteer labor, your contribution helps create a place where others can find comfort, quiet, and rest.

Thank you for helping us build Belle Inn & Studios—one thoughtful detail at a time.

Let’s Work Together

Get in touch so we can start working together.