Do you enjoy paying more than you can... or more than you should when buying Christmas gifts?
No?
Then you owe it to yourself to spend part of your hard earned Christmas money at Penelope's Closet on Old Shell Road.
"It's really hard to go back and shop in department stores once you've been in thrift stores,” says Toni Ann Torrans, “because you can find beautiful things, many with the tag still on them that you can get for a fraction of the price."
Tonie Ann actually says some people shop here before they go to the major department stores, because, a lot of times they'll find something here that they've seen there. But here at Penelope's Closet it costs a lot less. Oh, and there's one more big advantage to spending your money here.
"Shopping here, donating here, all of this supports the shelter."
That shelter Tonie Ann is referring to is Penelope House, a place of security and hope for individuals and families facing spousal abuse, serving Mobile, Washington, Choctaw and Clarke Counties.
During the current Covid crises, Penelope House has had to change the way they operate, providing more physical separation of their clients.
A million and a half dollar "Cares Grant" is allowing them to expand their housing, adding 8 new rooms. But that blessing means operational costs will rise along with the number of families served... increased maintenance costs and utilities.
Toni Ann directs the shelter.
"We really need money because we've got to pay those bills,” she says. “And when the grants fall short, we have to rely on fund raising and community support to help meet those needs."
And on this day, employees from Mobile Energy showed up to donate a check that will certainly help make their spirits bright.
You can do that, too, by donating money or items to Penelope's Closet. Or just come shop!
Toni Ann says you never know what you'll find!
"And Karen, our store manager, says people will come in and they'll go... they'll look around, and then they'll come back and they'll say, 'Do you know this vase that was $5 was thirty in the store? The same vase!' And she's like... yeah!”