For Kevin and Melissa Wood, supporting the community has never been about recognition.
But during Circle of Hope’s 2026 Denim and Diamonds Gala, the Clarkesville business owners were recognized for years of generosity and community involvement when they received the organization’s “Hope in Action” award.
The honor recognized the Woods’ longstanding support of Circle of Hope through sponsorships, fundraising efforts, volunteer participation and donations that have directly benefited the nonprofit’s mission.
“We supported Circle of Hope when I first bought the store in 2019,” Kevin Wood said in an interview with Habersham News.
That support began almost immediately after Kevin and Melissa purchased Wood’s Furniture — now Wood’s Mercantile — in Clarkesville.
Over the years, the Woods have become known not only for growing one of Habersham County’s oldest retail businesses, but also for consistently giving back to local schools, charities and community organizations.
One of the Woods’ most visible efforts came in 2022 when Kevin and Melissa — along with their four children — participated in Circle of Hope’s “Dancing with the Stars for Hope” fundraiser.
“We were dancers with Dancing with the Stars,” Wood said.
The family competed under the team name “No Assembly Required” and quickly became one of the event’s biggest success stories.
Melissa and Kevin Wood raised $34,251 for Circle of Hope — the highest fundraising total among all participating teams that year. The family also earned second place in the judges’ choice portion of the competition.
“This year we got to participate with our kids, so it was truly a family event,” Melissa Wood said at the time. “Circle of Hope is a great cause, and Suzanne is so wonderful to work with.”
Circle of Hope Executive Director Suzanne Dow has often praised the community’s willingness to step forward and support the organization’s mission to help victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Woods family has repeatedly answered that call.
Their support extended beyond fundraising events.
When Circle of Hope opened its new Demorest facility, Wood’s Mercantile helped furnish portions of the building by donating furniture and décor for office spaces.
“We supported them. We were able to help them when they built their new building,” Kevin Wood said. “We supplied some of the furniture, the sofas, chairs, and rugs, and things like that.”
Even after receiving the “Hope in Action” award, Wood remained humble about the recognition.
“I was honored,” Wood said. “I care deeply about Circle of Hope and their mission for the community.”
The Woods’ charitable efforts have mirrored the same community-focused approach they brought to Wood’s Mercantile after purchasing the longtime Clarkesville business in 2019.
Since then, Kevin and Melissa have modernized and expanded the store while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and local involvement. In 2022, the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce recognized those efforts by naming Wood’s Mercantile its Business of the Year.
For many in Habersham County, however, the “Hope in Action” award reflects something larger than business success.
It reflects a family that has consistently used its time, resources and influence to invest back into the community around them.
