POP Shoppe Saturday
High Country Women’s Fund, WAMY, Unique Boutique partner for special shopping day

By Sherrie Norris

The big day is here – POP Shoppe is Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Unique Boutique in Boone.

The Watauga Children’s Council’s Myrtle the Turtle RV will entertain children at Saturday’s POP Shoppe event. File photo

The event is hosted by the High Country Women’s Fund, whose signature fundraiser, Power of the Purse (POP), makes possible many special events like this one throughout the year. Partnering with WAMY Community Action Inc., which has owned and operated the Unique Boutique Thrift Shop since 1984, the “Women of POP” strive to raise awareness and funds to benefit the programs they serve in this area.

Saturday’s “unique” event serves several purposes for women. It allows those who wish to be a part of changing lives to do so by donating not only nice women’s clothing items and accessories, but something the whole family might be able to use. It serves as an opportunity for other women who just want to shop for themselves and help a good cause. Most importantly, perhaps, it will provide a rare shopping spree for those women served through High Country Women’s Fund to make purchases for themselves and their children, without worrying about the cost.

Thanks to the innovation and insight of the HCWF members, WAMY and the compassionate staff of Unique Boutique, women served by HCWF through any of its partnering agencies - WAMY, The Children’s Council, OASIS, Watauga County Health Department Maternity Services, Family Solutions, Caldwell Community College, Mountain Alliance, Hospitality House and WeCAN - will receive vouchers for free clothing and needed items for themselves and their children on POP Shoppe Day. The “Women of POP” will be on hand to assist and encourage shoppers that day.

To stretch their fundraising dollars a bit farther and keep the community involved, the HCWF is asking for donations of new or gently used summer clothing for women and children and all other accepted items at Unique Boutique (see list below) to be brought in before Saturday, specifying that the donations are for the POP Shoppe, all of which are tax deductible.

On shopping day, POP Shoppe guests will be able to choose from anything throughout the store, with a specially designated area reminding them what it’s all about.

“We hope this will be a selection of really nice offerings from generous donations,” said Catherine Scantlin, coordinator of HCWF.

All items that day will be available for purchase by the public. Childcare will be provided by WCWF volunteers, so mommies can have some personal shopping time. The children will have the opportunity to pick out an item for their mom for Mother’s Day and HCWF volunteers will help children wrap their gifts and make cards. The Children’s Council’s very own Myrtle the Turtle RV will be there for entertainment.

All proceeds from sales will go to WAMY to help women on their journey for self-sufficiency. Refreshments will be provided to all shoppers.

It is the mission of WAMY Community Action Inc. to promote individual and family self-sufficiency in order to alleviate poverty at the root level and to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Watauga, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. The Unique Boutique serves as a sales and distribution center for items donated to the agency. Some items are distributed at no cost to low-income families and others are sold at reasonable prices to the general public. The proceeds from those sales are used to support the self-sufficiency programs operated by WAMY, including Total Family Development, Gardening Program, Weatherization Assistance, Heating Appliance Repair and Replacement Program, Avery Amigos, Micro Loan Program, Avery Youth Opportunities (Avery YO!) Afterschool Program, and Supportive Housing Program.

Items accepted on a regular basis include clothing and shoes, household items, kitchen items, linens, books, music, toys, crafts, furniture, appliances electronics. Through its recycling program, the thrift shop also accepts non-wearable clothing and shoes that are recycled into new items. WAMY receives five cents for every pound of worn-out clothing and shoes collected, which goes straight back into the community. Items need to be separated and non-wearable clothing labeled “rags.”

The Unique Boutique is located behind Mike’s Inland Seafood at 147 Perkinsville Drive in Boone.

(Note: This reporter challenges all women to make a run through their closets today and join her at the Unique Boutique before Saturday. Together, we can make a difference even if it’s just one dress at a time.)