LAURA EMBRY / Union-Tribune
Brody,15, checked out clothes yesterday at My Girlfriend's Closet, a San Diego nonprofit formed by mothers and their teenage daughters. The group collects hardly used clothes. “I think it's awesome,” Brody said, who was shopping for her mother and a friend. |
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These high school girls love to shop and shop and shop. At upscale department stores, boutiques, anywhere. Their closets overflow with stylish clothes worn once, twice and then never again.
They are up to date on the latest trends and know what they would and wouldn't be caught wearing.
To put their fashion talents to good use, about a dozen teens and their mothers, mostly from well-to-do families, have teamed up to collect hardly used clothes for girls in homeless shelters and foster care programs.
Not just any clothes get passed on. The high school girls screen each top, pair of pants, skirt, shoe, sweater and jacket that is donated.
“If it's really not cute or if it's something a grandmother would wear, we give it to The Salvation Army or something,” said Teresa Skala, 17. “We want to cater to our age.”
Teresa and her friends displayed their selections yesterday at a free “shopping” spree at an emergency youth shelter operated by the nonprofit group, San Diego Youth & Community Services.
The building's courtyard was turned into an outdoor market with racks and tables filled with jeans, pants, shirts and dresses. Girls were given bags to fill as they entered.
“I think it's awesome,” said Brody, a 15-year-old looking for clothes for her mother and a friend.
The San Diego Union-Tribune is referring to the girls who participated in the giveaway by only their first names because of their circumstances.
The shopping spree was the fourth for the group of mothers and daughters, who call themselves “My Girlfriend's Closet.” The group, which recently received nonprofit status, was created early last year.
“It was just an idea that came up,” said the group's founder, Barbara Greiert. “We have all these fabulous clothes that these girls purchase and don't want three months later.”
Greiert started a similar charitable organization a few years ago with her son. They sought used baseball equipment to give away.
Her son since has graduated from high school, so Greiert looked for a similar program for her 17-year-old daughter, Lara. The baseball equipment program is now run by someone else.
About six mother-and-daughter teams, mostly from Point Loma and Mission Hills, were the backbone of the group. A few more have joined, and two girls who were in the foster care system serve as advisers.
They get clothes donated from service organizations, sororities and individuals. And of course, the girls raid their own closets for outfits that they no longer want but think someone else might.
“You need to clean out your closet every other month,” Teresa said. “Every time I do it, I usually get a shopping bag full of clothes.”
The group collected so many clothes for yesterday's giveaway that the mothers and daughters sorted through them twice. The mothers often defer to their daughters' judgment.
“Many of us moms don't have a clue of what teenaged girls would wear,” Sandy Silverman said.
Silverman and her daughter, Stacey, have been active in the group from the start. Stacey is friends with Lara Greiert.
Silverman likes that her daughter and her friends are helping others, especially girls they may never have met otherwise.
“It's opened her eyes to a whole other aspect of society,” Silverman said.
Nanette, a 19-year-old living on her own with help from the county, dropped by yesterday to look for work clothes. Most of her paycheck from a part-time job at a furniture store goes to rent and savings.
“I'm tired of wearing the same stuff,” said Nanette, who lived in foster care from ages 16 to 18.
Nanette heard about My Girlfriend's Closet from a program that helps people who have aged out of foster care. She has received donated clothes in the past, but often she never wore them because they were old, out of style or damaged.
Never before, Nanette said, had she chosen from such nice clothes. After making a few rounds, Nanette left with a bag stuffed with shoes, tops, a skirt and other outfits.
“It's pretty good,” Nanette said. “I like how it's set up.”
Greiert said the volunteers want to provide a real shopping experience. They bought racks from stores going out of business, and volunteers roamed around to help.
Greiert said she invites social service agencies and groups that know of girls who could benefit. She said no one is turned away and she allows girls to shop for others.
“Anyone who comes is someone in need,” Greiert said.
The group, now a mix of high school girls and their mothers, is planning its next giveaway in September. Greiert said she hopes the younger members will continue the program after the older ones graduate.
Amy Roberts Garcia, a director of programs at San Diego Youth & Community Services, said many teens can't afford these types of clothes. My Girlfriend's Closet is providing a unique resource, Roberts Garcia said.
“This is an opportunity for them to get nice things for parties and proms,” Roberts Garcia said.
Amy Oakes: (619) 293-2043; amy.oakes@uniontrib.com
