Today we’d like to introduce you to the Charity Guild Shop.
Please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
A Hidden Treasure the Charity Guild Shop is a One-of-a-Kind Experience Tucked in the heart of Montrose. The Charity Guild Shop is one of Houston’s gems. Opened in 1952, our unique resale shop has everything from designer dresses to antique china to must-have home decor. All of it is carefully curated by our staff, and pieces are accepted based on their high quality and originality. All of the items are consigned or donated by the community, and the shop is run by a volunteer team of women who’ve given of their time and talent for our 68-year history. More than that, however, the Charity Guild Shop’s mission is different from that of other non-profit resale shops throughout the city. The funds we raise benefit Houston’s children in need who might otherwise lack access to enough food, safe housing, affordable healthcare, clothing, education, counseling and more. We have awarded grants to more than 158 non-profit organizations in Houston.
When you step through the doors of the Charity Guild Shop, you are part of the family. You are also part of an abiding tradition of serving the community. Nearly 100 years ago, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women who sought to serve their city in a tangible way, guided by their faith. The Guild’s founding women contributed $1 each and created layettes for babies born at the San Jose Clinic. That tradition is the golden thread of our organization that binds the past to the present. Every new member of the Charity Guild spends time on our Sewing Committee learning the art of making layette sets that are still donated to new mothers. And from those sewing circle donations, the Charity Guild Shop grew into the retail store we operate today. In addition to the quality clothing, artwork and housewares we have, you can still find hand-crafted items made by our volunteers.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Shoppers might confuse us with either the nearby Guild Shop or Catholic Charities. And while our retail mission is similar to the Guild Shop, and we are mostly a team of Catholic volunteers, we are distinct from each of those entities. We are proud of our rich tradition and that we provide shoppers with a different, exciting adventure every time they visit.
Charity Guild Shop – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
When you step through the doors of the Charity Guild Shop, you are part of the family. You are also part of an abiding tradition of serving the community. The funds we raise benefit Houston’s children in need who might otherwise lack access to enough food, safe housing, affordable healthcare, clothing, education, counseling and more. We have awarded grants to more than 158 non-profit organizations in Houston. The Charity Guild is blessed to be in the city of Houston where we have been able to grow and extend our reach to so many non-profit organizations.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Our proudest moments are hearing the excitement from our shoppers when they find the perfect item and each February, celebrating the fruits of our labor during the Children’s Charities Grants Awards ceremony. Our parent organization, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women founded in 1922 distributes the proceeds from the shop to non-profits benefiting Houston’s children in need. Listening to the inspiring stories of the agencies receiving the grants is the ultimate reward for all our volunteers. The Charity Guild of Catholic Woman is 98 years strong! We look forward to celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2020.
Contact Info:
- Address: Charity Guild Shop
1203 Lovett Boulevard
Houston, TX - Website: www.charityguildshop.org
- Phone: 713-529-0995
- Email: publicitychair@charityguildshop.org
- Instagram: @charityguildshop
- Facebook: #charityguildshop
Image Credit:
F Carter Smith FCS Studios 713-862-6338
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