Looking to meet your New Year’s resolution in Columbia? From feeling fit to finding more family time, check out our local resolution recommendations below.

DONATE USED ITEMS

4 Paws Thrift Store, 304 12th St. | See the weekly sales happening now through the end of the week and proceeds benefit abused, abandoned, and rescued pets.
Habitat Restore, 2814 Augusta Rd. | Habitat Restore is all about sharing home goods for a fraction of the cost. With new items added daily, shop here to help support the building of affordable homes in the Midlands.
Oliver Gospel Thrift Store, 10012 Two Notch Rd. | Every purchase at this thrift store helps fund job training and supports those experiencing homelessness in Columbia.
Thrift Avenue, 1217 Sunset Blvd. | This thrift store supports rescued animals from PetsInc and takes donations.
For a full list of thrift stores in the Soda City check out our round-up here.

JOIN A GYM

Athlete’s Arena, 3541 Dreher Shoals Rd., Irmo + 2829 Millwood Ave. | Offers personal training, fitness classes + Crossfit and is designed for youth, middle school, high school, collegiate, and elite athletes.
Cottontown Crossfit, 2202 Sumter St. | If you’re looking for small class sizes that put your safety first and mobility-focused workouts, give this gym a try.
Drew Wellness Center, 2101 Walker Solomon Way | Located just off Harden Street outside of Five Points, The Drew offers affordable memberships with amenities like an Olympic size pool, basketball courts, and class workouts.
Fit Columbia, 2121 College St. | This studio offers a balanced approach to sustainable fitness and life enhancement through strength + mobility training, and yoga.

MEET NEW PEOPLE

BNI (Business Network International) South Carolina Midlands | This business referral organization can help you build a structured, positive, and professional referral program.
Everplay Sports and Social Club | Do you miss playing the organized sports you played as a child? Join the Everplay league to play kickball, volleyball, or a variety of other sports.
Podcast Brunch Club | Share your love of podcast in this community of engaged listeners discussing a new theme at each meeting.
Silent Book Club | Gather at the Graduate Hotel on the USC campus, grab a cocktail, and settle in for an afternoon of reading with friends.
If you’re looking to get plugged into a local online community, check out our round up of local Facebook groups to join.

READ MORE BOOKS

All Good Books, 734 Harden St. | Opening soon in Five Points, Columbia’s new independent bookstore will be a place for readers in the community to gather, read, meet authors, and discuss their favorite books.
Ed’s Editions, 406 Meeting St. | This local bookstore caters to the community and collector and has wide variety of hard to find, out of print, used, and rare books.
Richland Library, various locations| Get that resolution started with a library card. Pro tip: There’s a whole lot more than books to take advantage of with your card.
Books written by local authors | Start with a book that’s near and dear — literally. Check Columbia Economic Development | Before you start your business, learn about why Cola is great start something or expand — from our large talent pool and infrastructure, to our central location in the state. out our list of books written by authors with ties to Columbia.

START A BUSINESS

Richland Library’s Employment + Small Business Help | Richland Library offers free classes and services to business owners who need anything from loan advice to planning for the future.
South Carolina Small Business Development Center | Entrepreneurs in all areas of business and industry are welcome to seek assistance when developing their business plan.
City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunities | Columbia wants to make it easy for you to start your own small business.