Custom holiday ornaments and high-end collectibles including an $8,000 gown worn at the Emmys will be on sale at a holiday boutique to benefit Senior Concerns on Thursday. “Contrary to popular belief, most thrift stores do not exist to provide cheap goods for the poor. They exist to raise money to support their organizations’ missions,” said Andrea Gallagher, president of Senior Concerns. Event proceeds will support services provided by Senior Concerns including an adult day program, Meals on Wheels, senior advocates, care management, “brain fitness,” legal and financial services, support groups and an Alzheimer’s disease resource center. “We expect to triple or quadruple our average daily sales, but more importantly we hope to raise awareness of the boutique and all of the fantastic values and hidden gems,” Gallagher said. “For instance, we have a gorgeous $8,000 designer gown that was worn to the Emmys that will be for sale.” Senior Concerns’ Bargain Boutique and Thrift Shop is in the Community Conscience Under One Roof Human Services Center at 80 E. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. The shop provides free vouchers to many charities in the building, allowing low-income and homeless people the ability to buy clothing, towels and other necessities. “If you consider the circle of care occurring there, the Bargain Boutique and Thrift Shop offers a great representation of the benevolence of the human spirit,” Gallagher said. “This one shop stands for many great things in our community.” The holiday boutique will feature high-end decorative collectibles with such names as Lenox, Lladro and Spode, said Sabrina Stout, a volunteer coordinator at the shop. “We’ve been saving all of our really nice, high-end clothing, shoes, purses, holiday and evening jewelry for this event,” Stout said. “There will be (designer) names such as St. John, Escada, Coach, Kate Spade and so many more. We’ll also have custom holiday floral arrangements, Nativity sets, wreaths, Santas, ornaments and home décor galore.” Shop proceeds are a vital component to Senior Concerns’ core operating funds, Gallagher said. “The money we earn from the shop allows us to keep our doors open and offer a variety of free services … and offer scholarships for our for fee services,” Gallagher said. Shopping at the boutique will directly affect seniors and caregivers in the community, said Stephanie Caffee, director of volunteers at Senior Concerns. Fundraisers are an integral part of what keeps Senior Concerns able to offer premier services to seniors and their caregivers, Caffee said. More …

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