SECOND ANNUAL “IT’S A GIRL THING”! XAVIER STUDENTS HELP OTHER TEENS BY RECYCLING FASHION

SECOND ANNUAL “IT’S A GIRL THING”! XAVIER STUDENTS HELP OTHER TEENS BY RECYCLING FASHION

Xavier College Preparatory senior Lindsay Kearns is spending another spring season buried in clothing. No, she’s not channeling Rebecca Bloomwood from the recent Confessions of a Shopaholic movie. She’s organizing the second annual “It’s A Girl Thing” clothing and accessories give-away to support at-risk teenage girls. The event will take place at The Rowdy Boutique, 4717 N. 7th St. in Phoenix, on Sunday, March 29 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Started last year to fulfill Lindsay’s Xavier community service requirement, “It’s A Girl Thing” provides at-risk Valley teens with much-needed used clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry and room décor – and a very special experience. One of Lindsay’s goals for the project was to present the clothing in a fun, boutique setting, and Melissa Owens and Kristin Dus of The Rowdy Boutique have again offered their store for the event. Seventy-five girls are expected to attend the event, enjoy refreshments, listen to music, and choose from about 1,500 donated items. Invitations were extended to girls through Florence Crittenton, Youth at Risk, Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development, and Home Base Youth Services among others.

“Last year’s event was so gratifying that there was never any doubt that I wanted to repeat the drive this year,” said Lindsay. “My friends, sophomores Ali Castillo and Leslie Wankowicz and freshman Raven Reynolds, are learning the ropes this year and I hope they will want to carry on the tradition. Xavier’s Key Club helped with the tedious job of sorting and sizing the clothes, and will support the moving and set-up of all the items at Rowdy.”

In addition to the items donated by the Xavier community, Lindsay also approached nearby businesses for help and all were willing to get involved. F.A.C.C.S. and My Sister’s Closet are lending clothing racks, Arizona Rentals will supply canopies, AJ’s Fine Foods is providing bags, Salon Estique is donating gift certificates, and Alan Jackell of Fenway Property donated an office suite for the girls to use in sorting the collection. Marc Hawkins of HP2 Inc. also donated t-shirts for all the girls who are working the event to wear.
“It’s been reassuring to work with Ali again this year, and with Leslie and Raven, and to know that they are committed to keeping the event alive,” said Lindsay.