4 minute read
A Stylish Solution with Heart
Who doesn’t love shopping with their friends, especially when it’s right on campus? That’s the idea behind the Breakthrough Boutique, a stylish and supportive solution born from compassion and community spirit.
After learning that many Breakthrough Fort Worth students were hesitant to attend Fancy Meal, one of the program’s signature events, because they didn’t have appropriate attire, Laura Lindsay Tatum ’10 and Ginger Epstein ’10 had an idea. They created a fun “second-glance” store where students could shop for gently used clothing, shoes and accessories for any occasion, from special events to everyday needs, and it’s all free.
Since the boutique’s inception in 2008, FWCD Upper School students have played a central role in bringing Breakthrough Boutique to life, leading the charge to stock the shop with stylish items that cater to a wide range of student needs. Throughout the school year, the “leads” coordinate with the Breakthrough team and organize donation drives.
A key part of the boutique’s success is its mentoring component. Upper School students spearhead the project and reach out to incoming eighth graders, who become chairs-intraining, providing them with early insight into leadership and logistics. When senior leaders graduate, they pass the baton to these younger students.
When Katie Bruce ’24 and Hannah Cheng ’24 asked Marsland Condrey ’27 to lead Breakthrough Boutique, she couldn’t say yes fast enough. Condrey has been volunteering with the boutique since the summer before her seventh grade year. She asked Lucy Wegman ’27 to join her, and they added their friends as committee members and have enjoyed every minute of the experience.
“My favorite thing about the boutique is it’s just us,” said Condrey. “Yes, we work with [Executive Director] Mr. [Joe] Breedlove [’78], and he helps us a ton, but for the most part, it’s just us in here. Coming up to campus when we want, staying as long as we want, and leaving when we want. It’s
really fun, but you also have to be really disciplined because there’s no one making sure you’re getting it done, and it’s just a bunch of 16-year-old girls sorting clothes and playing music.”
A few weeks leading up to the shopping day, the committee goes through the donations collected and determines which items to include in the boutique and which to donate to another organization. Depending on what remains after the students have a chance to shop, the committee may donate the leftover items to a larger mission or clothing drive. Last year, they chose Union Gospel as their beneficiary.
A highlight this year is that the committee had a designated space to work in. In the past, they had to organize their inventory in one room and then transport everything to the Lou and Nick Martin Campus Center for the big event. This year, the store was set up in the Village Quad, where the committee did a great job setting up the boutique, even creating dressing rooms so that students could try on clothes before checking out.
“Having it in the Quad this year has been nice because it was solely our space,” said Wegman.
Tuesday, June 10, was the big shopping day for the students attending Fancy Meal. Excitement filled the room as Breakthrough students browsed the racks, their faces lit up with smiles as they discovered pieces that caught their eye. The committee members were all smiles, too, cheerfully assisting with checkout and carefully packaging the items, adding a touch of tissue paper for a little something extra.
“Breakthrough Boutique is always a great event for the students,” said Breedlove. “Marsland, Lucy and their committee did a great job organizing everything for the students. The new location in the Quad was also a great change because it is a designated space.”
If there’s one message Condrey and Wegman want to share, it’s that donations are always welcome – and they appreciate everyone who donates year after year.
