Walking into Community Threads KC in Olathe feels like walking into a boutique. The nonprofit, located at 420 Kansas Ave., opened its doors with a simple mission: give people who need free clothes the shopping experience.

How it Works

Shoppers can come in anytime during business hours without an appointment. While there’s no criteria or income threshold to shop at Community Threads, clients are asked a few basic questions when they enter— information that helps the nonprofit better understand who it serves and apply for grants.

Clients are paired with a personal shopping assistant — a volunteer who walks alongside the client, helping them look through the racks of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as shoes, purses and accessories. Dressing rooms allow clients to make sure they love what they’re taking home.

Community Threads relies on clothing and financial donations. Donors are the lifeblood of how the nonprofit operates, according to founder Shelley White.

Background

After spending 30 years in the reinsurance industry, White transitioned into the nonprofit space. She began volunteering at different organizations, including Dress for Success and the Women’s Empowerment Network.

One of those organizations was Angel Clothing Foundation, a nonprofit that operated out of the same storefront as Community Threads. When the foundation’s founder died, her children decided to dissolve the nonprofit, leaving the space vacant.

White wanted to keep the mission of Angel Clothing Foundation alive but decided to build something new. She signed a lease for the same storefront, but Community Threads is a completely separate legal entity and, unlike Angel Clothing Foundation, isn’t faith-based.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.