Free Clothing Boutique Helps Chesterfield Residents with Back-to-School, Other Needs
Mercy Mall fulfills unique need in community to
empower, lift spirits of those down on their luck
CHESTERFIELD, Va. (Sept. 7, 2012) — A new charity,
called Mercy Mall, has opened in the area to serve the needs of Chesterfield
families and beyond. Mercy Mall is located at Uncle Bob’s Self Storage, units
136 and 121, at 3830 N. Bailey Bridge Rd. in
Midlothian, just behind the Wawa Gas Station on the corner of Bailey Bridge
Road and Hull Street. This hidden gem provides shoppers with a unique
experience. The boutique is open every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Patrons may visit during store hours or make
an appointment by sending an email to bncmercymall@gmail.com or call (870)
688-1535. Shoppers will be asked to fill out a registration card. During their
visit, volunteers help them locate and coordinate items that they need. Patrons
may visit Mercy Mall every 30 days.
“We don’t turn anyone away,” says Stacey Jones,
chief care officer and founder of Mercy Mall, Chesterfield ” We hear many
stories of families that can’t get help anywhere else and that might not
qualify for help elsewhere, but that need it and we want people to know we are
here to help them.”
Mercy Mall has a unique setup in that the clothing
in particular is organized not only by size, but coordinated by style and
accessorized with shoes, jewelry, belts and handbags. A professional organizer
by trade, Jones designed the boutique with end result in mind.
“The boutique’s atmosphere was set up to help
empower the shopper, give them hope and show them that someone cares about
them. We’ve helped teenagers put together trendy back-to-school looks, helped
job seekers find a complete polished outfit for an interview, helped replenish
someone’s house after a fire, helped a new mother get set up for a new baby
coming home, single moms, foster families, and we have all sizes from newborn
and children’s to men’s and women’s sizes 3x, including maternity
clothes.”
Mercy Mall provides a number of items when available
(but it is not limited to): nonperishable food; clothing, belts, jewelry and
shoes; health & beauty care; laundry detergent; baby clothes, diapers, and
equipment; misc. household items, furniture, etc. In addition, Mercy Mall has a small army of
supporters that it reaches out to when it has specific needs that it might not
have in stock.
The Chesterfield Mercy Mall was founded in December
2011 and is a 501c3 charity. It was founded in partnership with Mission of Hope
International that runs the Fresh Start program in Chesterfield, a program for
single, widowed, divorced, and single adoptive mothers whose goal is to break
cycles that lead to failure and promote positive life change.
“It was divine intervention that connected us,” says
Dr. Simi Massey, president and founder of Mission of Hope International.
"We had the same vision and the families of Fresh Start/New Horizons are
reaping many blessings including material needs, love, and
compassion."
Chesterfield Mercy Mall started with a 10x10 storage
unit and within one month, the charity moved into a 10x30 space on January 20,
2012. Since then, the charity has added more units to serve as overstock space
which contains baby equipment, overstock and seasonal items.
Mercy Mall is based on a concept that was started in
Harrison, Arkansas by Pastor Shannon O' Dell of Brand New Church (BNC) to serve
the local communities of church campuses. Four hundred families on average are
served at the first location in AR, as an agent of the food bank. To date the
local Mercy Mall has served about 160 residents and has been promoted by
word-of-mouth only.
Mercy Mall is always looking for volunteers, in-kind
donations and monetary donation. All donations are tax deductible. The items
needed are: nonperishable food,
clothing, shoes, linens, health & beauty aids, laundry detergent, baby
clothes, diapers, and equipment, misc. household items, black plastic hangers,
children hangers, and any shelving or racks. Mercy Mall also takes a limited
amount of furniture. Just drop off during regular hours or make an appointment,
and we will take care of the rest. Tax receipts provided.
The charity is always looking for volunteers,
in-kind donations and monetary donation. Ways to serve the Mercy Mall:
• Serve on-site during open hours
• Sort & put out donations
• Donate and spread the word
• Lead or help coordinate collection drives (Sept,
Nov, Dec)
About Mercy Mall
Mercy Mall is a free boutique that serves the needs
of Chesterfield residents and beyond by inspiring hope, empowering visitors and
building confidence. Connect with Mercy Mall via bncmercymall@gmail.com, Face
book/chesterfieldmercymall or Twitter/chestermercymall or visit our blog
Chesterfieldmercymall.com.
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Media Contacts:
Melissa Watkins
PR Counsel, Out Box Comm.
Cell: 804-402-5316
melissawatkins@comcast.net
Stacey Jones
Founder, Chesterfield Mercy Mall
Cell: 870-688-1535
staceyannejones72@gmail.com
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