On December 16, The Sharing Shelf, the nonprofit clothing bank serving children and teens in Westchester County, unveiled its stunning new “training and welcome” room. The space was designed pro bono by world-renowned actress and television host Drew Barrymore and created pro bono by Made by Gather, the company behind America’s fastest-growing kitchen and homeware brands, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore and bella.
The initiative was made possible through Made by Gather’s Founder and CEO Shae Hong and his wife Erica Hong, Tarrytown residents and dedicated supporters of the organization. Erica volunteers with The Sharing Shelf and set in motion the dynamics that have now made this extraordinary space a reality.
Erica and Shae Hong (shown at right) first introduced Drew Barrymore to The Sharing Shelf, sparking a conversation about how they could collectively make a meaningful contribution. Together, they offered to donate the transformation of a 20′ x 30′ space adjacent to The Sharing Shelf’s Teen Boutique into a much-needed “training and welcome room.” Drew designed the furnishings personally, while Made by Gather executed the transformation and brought her vision to life.
The new “training and welcome” room is to be used at different times for four separate purposes: as a welcome space for teens; as a training space for clothing education of the teens; as a welcome space for volunteers; as a training space for the volunteers.
The Teen Boutique operates as a free store that enables low-income teens, referred by schools and nonprofit organizations, to select their own clothing at no cost in a private and dignified setting with the look and feel of a real boutique. More than 67,000 children and teens live in poverty or a low-income home in Westchester.
