Duluth's 'Teen Closet' Gets Much-Needed Makeover
Posted at: 10/02/2012 6:55 PM
| Updated at: 10/05/2012 12:51 PM
By: Dayna Landgrebe
Teens in need are getting, what feels like, a brand new place to shop in Duluth. The Teen Closet is a new/gently-used clothing shop for at-risk teens.
It's located on the third floor of Duluth's First Presbyterian Church, but the store was in desperate need of a makeover.
"We do have really nice product, but it's sometimes hard to see if the atmosphere isn't right for [teens], said Lindsay Bruce, co-manger of the Teen Closet. "We purposely picked bright colors, bright decorations, so it's a place that teenagers would like to come and shop."
Bruce and Lisa Williams co-manage the shop together. But the changes for the Teen Closet were actually spear-headed by youth.
Members of the Lutheran Social Services Youth Council applied for and wrote a grant for the Northland Foundation, securing the store $1,300 to give it a facelift. The LSS Youth Council is made up of current and former foster youth who advocate for other kids through community service.
Williams said having a place that gives teens a chance to feel good about themselves is a vital opportunity.
"It's very important to us that we offer our youth clothes that make them feel comfortable and confident."
Bruce said the remodel forced the shop to be closed all summer and since they've reopened, the numbers of kids stopping by have shot way up.
"Our idea was to just have a place that teens would love to come and shop and feel like it was a a real store and not like they were going to pick up some dingy clothes," Bruce said.
Teens can pick out eight items per visit, free of charge. For that reason, the Teen Closet is always looking for more donations. Williams said they're accepting shoes, backpacks, purses, belts new socks and underwear, jackets, hats, scarves and mittens.
The First Presbyterian Church (Teen Closet, 3rd level) is located at 300 E. Second Street in Duluth. The Teen Closet is open every Tuesday from 3-5 p.m.
All donations can be delivered on site or to the LSS Duluth office at 424 W. Superior Street, Suite 104.
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