LuLu’s Free Store: Offering a chic shopping experience free of charge
Courtesy of Gracy Reid-Vensel
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store founder Grace Reid-Vensel, left, and her friend Shaun Walker welcome shoppers to a popup event outside the Washington City Mission in July. Reid-Vensel, of North Franklin, was inspired to found the non-transactional boutique last year, after hosting a free store at her high school, Lincoln Park, and recognizing the need in Western Pennsylvania.
Courtesy of Grace Reid-Vensel
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store offers a selection of clothing in varying sizes for shoppers to browse and 无毛视频渂uy无毛视频� at no charge. The popup boutique was officially awarded nonprofit status in September and is in need of product and monetary donations.
Courtesy of Grace Reid-Vensel
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store offers a chic, non-transactional shopping experience at popup events, where folks are invited to browse clothing, home goods, beauty products and children无毛视频檚 items. In July, clothing was hung with care outside the Washington City Mission, and upcoming events are posted in advance to the nonprofit无毛视频檚 Instagram.
Those who know Grace Reid-Vensel, a compassionate, creative 17-year-old North Franklin Township resident, know she has a penchant for shopping.
So when the high schooler decided to start a nonprofit, founding a free store simply made sense.
无毛视频淎s I kid, I loved shopping. I loved shopping so much,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel, founder of LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store, said. 无毛视频淚 want to create that experience of reinvention when you get something new to you.无毛视频�
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store, awarded nonprofit status in September, is a start-up that offers a chic shopping experience for those on a budget.
无毛视频淥ur central mission is to provide hope, warmth and dignity throughout Western Pennsylvania by providing free access to the material necessities in life,无毛视频� said Reid-Vensel, a senior at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center. 无毛视频淕etting a new set of PJs, a new pillow to throw on your couch, a new body wash 无毛视频� picking out new things, it feels like your life is reinvented. The positivity that can come from the experience of shopping, even if it isn无毛视频檛 transactional, is really important for people无毛视频檚 dignity.无毛视频�
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store is modeled on trendy popup boutiques, well, popping up around the U.S. What sets the nonprofit apart from other popups and boutiques on wheels is that every item for sale at LuLu无毛视频檚 has a price tag of zero.
无毛视频淚 sort of realized amid the pandemic, I kind of had an awakening: You can never assume the position of the people around you,无毛视频� said Reid-Vensel, who serves as vice president of Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center无毛视频檚 student council.
Lincoln Park is located in Midland, where the poverty rate is 18%. Last year, Reid-Vensel worked with other student organizations to host a free store during lunchtimes ahead of the holiday season.
无毛视频淚t really had a great effect. It was very de-stigmatized. That was the change I wish to see in the world,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel said. 无毛视频淚t inspired me to bring it to my community.无毛视频�
The theater major has family ties to Washington and West Alexander and saw the need for a non-transactional shopping experience in Western Pennsylvania. In July, Reid-Vensel partnered with the City Mission in Washington, where her popup shop was well-received.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 needed everywhere, support like that,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel said. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 just so touching to see the effects that just such a small act of kindness 无毛视频� can have on someone无毛视频檚 day or someone无毛视频檚 life. Being able to shop for a birthday gift for your niece, having the dignity of being able to give someone a gift, or give yourself a gift, especially when they无毛视频檝e had days they were not able to. I无毛视频檓 thankful to be the person who provides that. I无毛视频檓 even more grateful that people get help.无毛视频�
To continue helping, the fledgling nonprofit needs donations. LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store accepts donations of new and lightly used clothing, jewelry and home goods, and new health and beauty products.
And, of course, 无毛视频渨e would love funding,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel said.
无毛视频淲e would love to get a van so that we can travel and kind of be a popup free boutique for people to walk in and have that full shopping experience,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel said. 无毛视频淔unding is great and donations are awesome, too.无毛视频�
While LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store works to establish a Venmo, donations of any kind can be made in person. Those interested in making donations to LuLu无毛视频檚 Free store may reach out to Reid-Vensel through Instagram or email to arrange a drop-off date, time and location.
Of course, what无毛视频檚 a boutique without shoppers? Folks are invited to browse LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store无毛视频檚 selection of clothes in an array of sizes, home decor, infant items and more at the shop无毛视频檚 next event. Events are posted one week in advance on social media.
LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store is just getting started, and Reid-Vensel is excited to grow her nonprofit and serve the needs of her community and beyond.
无毛视频�(Theater) has definitely given me a lens of empathy, the act of stepping into someone else无毛视频檚 shoes. My roots in theater has definitely propelled me to enact change in my community,无毛视频� Reid-Vensel said. 无毛视频淚 would love to take this through my adulthood.无毛视频�
For more on LuLu无毛视频檚 Free Store, visit https://www.instagram.com/lulusfreestore/ or email the popup boutique at lulusfreestore2022@gmail.com.