empowerment: Past & Present

While you may know that the YWCA of Charleston operates a gently used clothing store on Charleston's East End, did you also know that we provide clothing to our program participants free of charge? At YWCA Past & Present, located at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Lee Street East, we empower individuals in need by providing them with quality clothing as they make their way toward self-sufficiency. Through our clothing voucher program, both adults and children at YWCA Sojourner's, Resolve, Shanklin, and Alicia McCormick can obtain vouchers for free gently used clothing, shoes & accessories.

In recent months, we have more than doubled the number of people we serve through this program. In August and September of 2007, 43 adult and 6 child vouchers were redeemed for a total of $1,404 in merchandise. In August and September of 2008, however, 98 adult and 34 child vouchers were redeemed - a total of $3,617!

YWCA program participants aren't the only ones to benefit from fabulous finds at YWCA Past & Present. Our store is open to the public from 7 am - 6 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am - 5 pm on Saturday. As everyone's budgets seem to be a little tighter this year, shoppers come to us for affordable back-to-school clothes, winter gear, one-of-a-kind jewelry, and much more.

In fact, a recent CNN article notes that people are increasingly looking for more ways to be savvy shoppers. The article states that in these troubled times, the powerful lure of a secondhand retail bargain is attracting customers from all economic classes. Read the rest of the CNN article here.

YWCA Past & Present could not continue to provide such valuable resources to our community without the hundreds of bags of donations it receives each month. Proceeds from YWCA Past & Present help offset the cost of the YWCA Alicia McCormick transitional housing program. Thank you to all of our generous donors...and happy shopping!