Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanel Shorts.
Chanel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2014 my husband and I were living in Jacksonville, FL – due to my husband’s job (we are both Cleveland natives) and were volunteering with the United Way. During our time of volunteering at a middle school, the principal mentioned to me that she wanted to do a cotillion for the 8th-grade girls. I participated in the Delta Sigma Theta Cotillion when I was younger and I immediately knew the cost associated with this effort.
The school was in an impoverished area of Jacksonville and the principal was looking to me for help. I knew a few women who had wedding dresses or other white gowns that they were no longer using so I figured I could ask them and then I could help round up accessories and donations for gloves and all things needed. Well, as this process started, as I started to ask, I started to receive and in surplus! Through this entire effort, we were able to get white gowns, shoes, tiaras, gloves, and accessories for over 25 young ladies.
Once I finished the cotillion, the Director of that particular United Way was floored by my ability to connect with the girls and then help support them and make them feel special. It was thanks to her, Coretta Scott, that I was pushed into starting my nonprofit organization, Chanel’s Closet.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, to say the least LOL. Part of the reason I can say it has not been a smooth road is because I did not set out with the intention of starting my own nonprofit. I was looking to serve and give back but under the umbrella of an established organization, so shifting my mindset from a participant to a leader was tough. I had to identify board members, cast vision and work tirelessly to get and keep up our supply of dresses, accessories and financial donations. If you do not know, the nonprofit world is incredibly saturated and soliciting donations is not an easy task but money is such a huge part of the need in order to do our programming. We are blessed that we have so many donations but storing the dresses was more complex then I originally realized because they have to be stored in a temperature controlled environment and they take up a lot of space, so we had to invest in offsite storage #expensive. Additionally creating programming that is sustainable as well as mobile can be daunting but it is so very fulfilling. The idea of Chanel’s Closet was born in Jacksonville, FL however once we made Houston, TX home, I knew I needed to set up shop here and I had a strong desire to donate to my hometown of Cleveland, OH; We just need help!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chanel’s Closet – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Chanel’s Closet is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that provides mentoring for school-aged young ladies during the fall and winter months of the academic school year. Students go through a curriculum crafted by myself that covers topics that all girls will face in high/middle school: formal and informal wear, God/s purpose for their lives, keeping up with academics, learning how to take care of their hygiene, and more. Once students complete the mentoring program, they are given the opportunity to attend a Chanel’s Closet pop-up shop in which they get to pick out dresses, accessories, get their hair and make up done and basically get anything else they need for prom at the end of the school year.
Our mission is to encourage beauty from the inside out, and we partner with like-hearted organizations who want to donate their time and resources to provide a night to remember for our Chanel’s Closet students!
What makes us different is the total experience we provide for the young ladies. Aside from the mentoring piece, our pop-up shop provides a real-life shopping experience for the young ladies. This allows them not to feel as though they are getting a handout. They are able to shop and then get their makeup and hair done by professionals.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We are looking to get connected with multiple schools in the Greater Houston area as well as secure a storefront to have a place where the girls can have Bible study, do school work, and somewhere to store the dresses so the pop-up experience is always available.
We are going to have some great events in the fall so stay connected with us for more information!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chanels-closet.org
- Email: chanelscloset2015@gmail.com
- Instagram: @chanelscloset2015
Image Credit:
Lots of Lenses
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