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| Yes, I'm supposed to look like a bag lady! |
Yesterday I had the honor of opening the SPARCC Second Hand Rose fashion show at the Sarasota Ritz Carlton with my very own version of the famous song, Second Hand Rose.
So picture this - and I kid you not - 600 women, all smartly dressed, who have each paid $95 a ticket, are seated in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton, having lunch and and watching a fashion show of.....used clothing.
Let me explain. SPARCC stands for Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center . It's a non-profit organization in Sarasota county that, among other things, provides shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence. They also provide rape counseling and many educational programs. According to their web site, "SPARCC’s mission is to provide services to victims of domestic and sexual violence, and to promote a violence-free community through awareness and education."
Okay, so they raise funds in a number of ways, one of them being their resale store called The Treasure Chest on Fruitville Rd in Sarasota. Now you notice I called it a "resale store". Translated, that usually means 'thrift shop'. But with the quality of the clothing donations involved in this place, you really can't think it that way. I'm talking FABULOUS clothing and jewelry, household items, etc. Thus, the full-blown, big production fashion show featuring all these fabulous clothes. At the RITZ no less!
But wait, there's more. The Treasure Chest staff brings the finest of the store's fare and sets it up for sale in the Ritz lobby for patrons to shop, before and after the fashion show. And they do! So here are hundreds of women (who can all afford $95 a ticket) buying 'resale' fashions. I LOVE IT!!
I can't wait to find out how much money was raised for SPARCC yesterday.
I am so proud to have been a part of it.
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