During the winter months I am more likely to see my next-door neighbor at the grocery store than I am on the street. Gabbing neighbors are evidence that the grocery store is what's known as the third place that a community needs in order to thrive. On consecutive Sunday afternoon visits I've concluded the third place of choice is Town & Country's Ballard Market.

Nearly 20 years ago, the discovery of Ballard Market directed our house hunt. My first Syttende Mai Parade featuring the Ballard Market Shopping Cart Drill Team reinforced the choice. I didn't know Ballard Market hadn't been there forever, never dreamed it was only two years old. I heard rumors about "Singles Night" but was drawn by the variety of bulk spices and imported cheeses, the friendly staff and salmon BBQ's.

Over the years I took Ballard Market too much for granted; the same faces, the costumes on Halloween, the whimsical themes (my favorite: Everything Blue). I vaguely noticed the reader board on 15th NW listed volunteer needs instead of the price of chicken. I noted their presence at SeafoodFest, but didn't realize they were major sponsors. My oblivious loyalty carried me through the challenging months of the remodel.

At least I saved my receipts and put them in a crammed box at my daughter's school: the newsletter told us that Ballard Market would donate 1 percent of the receipts to the school. At auctions, neighborhood and park clean-ups I recognized Ballard Market chili and sponsorship. Then I noticed Ballard Pool was collecting receipts too. I wondered, how many organizations do they support?

Answer: countless. I checked with in two groups to find out how they use Ballard Market dollars. Rosemary Daszkiewicz, chair of the Salmon Bay Elementary parent group responded that such funds go toward arts enrichment and supplies, "increasingly, we are also being asked to help fund things that I would characterize as being part of basic education - library books and librarians, counselors, physical education, etc." Jeannette Budrow from Ballard Pool called to say, "Ballard Market has been awesome to us." She said they've provided continual support, contributing snacks for ongoing and special events and always being willing to help. The receipt program affords them "the niceties," extra goggles, stackable chairs for the waiting parents, toys for a children's corner.

I called the Store Director Steve Williams to ask about the program and learned that any local non-profit can enroll in the 1 percent program by completing a form; it's up to the organization to decide how funds are spent. "We don't ask what the funds are for, we just want to be a good community partner." Steve didn't have a specific number, "there are a lot of groups - most of the churches." I was so stunned by the modest largesse that my questioning floundered but I learned he's been store director since they opened 21 years ago, impressive by itself. We discussed locally owned businesses and the need to listen to their customer base. We talked about increased density, how he and his managers brainstorm themes that excite them, and their relationship with the Equal Exchange Cooperative - the way their missions align.

Until this week I didn't know I could read their bi-weekly or Big Board specials on-line. I didn't know that the sailboat logo symbolizes three elements: Kaizen- continuous improvement; Unami - the quest for the peak of perfection; and Gaman - patience and perseverance. I assumed the logo was related to maritime. I thought Ballard Market was just a convenient local grocery store with great staff, good heart and excellent selection.

Once I started seeing strings between the store and the community they were suddenly as visible as a spider's web in the morning dew. Organizations, churches and schools acquire items they couldn't otherwise because of Ballard Market. The reader board on 15th NW is a community board for Ballard, advertising the spaghetti dinner at the Senior Center and volunteer needs at the Ballard Food Bank. Then there's the venue itself, at the confluence between east and west Ballard; the spot that I hear numerous people call "my favorite community meeting place." Whether or not you actually shop at Ballard Market, it is in your life, promoting community health with its quiet and varied forms of support. So don't you dare recycle another receipt - in the coffers of a non-profit it could go toward swim goggles or a music teacher, a toothbrush, a helping hand.

Peggy's e-mail is atlargeinballard@yahoo.com and her blog is at http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/ballard/