The Aficionado gives back
I sometimes volunteer my services to various women’s shelters, and empowerment charities. The latest endeavor involved Ms. V (not her real name). Ms. V is a 30 something year old that I met while volunteering at a shelter for abused women. Ms. V, after suffering years of abuse in GA decided to take her 12 year old daughter and move to Florida, where she had only one friend and no family. After she “wore out her welcome” (her words not mine) at a friends house, she had no where to turn but to a local shelter. For most people that would be devastating, and I personally couldn’t understand how she was so up beat and cheery. Think about it, she ran away from all she knew, her only friend kicked her out, and she was living in a bedroom with a moody 12 year old. I was thinking to myself: she is putting on a front, I bet she lays down every night and cry her eyes out. She put me in my place one day, when I told her how I felt. Ms. V said “Girl please, this is easy. Everyday you don’t have to worry about your life is a day you should be smiling, you might be hungry, but you ain’t dead” I laugh when I think about her thick southern accent, but aside from that her statement is very true.
Recently Ms. V got a job at a small family owned furniture store, and needed clothes. Side note: You don’t know how happy I was to actually go out shopping with her. Most of the time when I volunteer I’m giving clothes that my clients have donated away, serving food, or operating as a fashion side kick to a career coach. I’m always telling them how to dress for an interview, I rarely get the chance to actually do something, and I often feel like they aren’t listening anyway. So when Ms. V actually got a job that didn’t involve a uniform or sweat pants, I was all giddy!
Anyways, the shelter had given Ms. V $200 to go shopping. We hopped in my car and went straight to TARGET!!!!!! I posted some of the things I saw while browsing with her on Twitter, but out of those things, she purchased the two blouses (the other things were not work friendly but I liked them for me). Also while there she purchased 3 pairs of pants, 1 skirt, 2 dresses, 5 additional tops, a pair of black flats, a few necklaces and a bra. Everything except the two blouses shown, the bra and one of the pants were found in the clearance section. Everything was under $20 individually. The best part of all, she still had money left over!!! I love Target. Her total bill was around $174 I tried to talk her into a pair of heels, low ones even, but she wasn’t having it. Can’t blame her she is on her feet all day. She spent the remaining money on makeup and a purse for her daughter. These purchases paired with donations and what she already had gave Ms. V a complete functional wardrobe. I am again soooo happy for her.
*** Update, I had to take the photo of Ms. V down – for obvious reasons, but here are the blouses.
