New ministry offers clothing with dignity
Christie Stephens is the manager at One TwentySeven, a new ministry that will feature carefully inspected and gently used clothing along with new items.
A new store in Dover will offer some spectacular clothing at bargain prices while helping many in need in the community.
One TwentySeven will hold a grand opening celebration on Friday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 130 W. Second St. in Dover, One TwentySeven will feature carefully inspected and gently used clothing along with new items from one of the hottest sources in the area.
Christie Stephens, manager at One TwentySeven, said the whole thing began about five years ago as part of the mission of the Church at Carter’s Orchard on Wooster Avenue in Dover.
“We were actually giving clothing away. We did clothing events in the spring and fall, and it was very successful, so we wanted to grow it separately from the church. We’ll be offering clothes for sale, but we will still be giving away clothes as part of what we do.”
Stephens said the separation from the originating church is a way to welcome the involvement of other churches in the community as well as make clear that the store is open to all, whether they have any church affiliation or not. “We welcome anyone who would like to help in some way or who has a need,” she said.
The store gets its name from James 1:27, which says, “Look after orphans and widows in their distress.”
“We’ll have donated items but also some very high-end, brand-new clothing at a very reasonable price,” Stephens said. “Our sources believe in what we’re doing and are donating new clothing.”
Stephens explained the store’s goal. “We want people who come here for free or inexpensive clothing to feel loved and welcome and confident when they walk out the door,” she said. “That’s our whole goal. We want to offer clothing of quality for women, children and men. Our tagline is ‘clothing with dignity, shopping with a purpose.’”
The store is a nonprofit organization and will be staffed with volunteers. “Every penny we make will stay here in the community to help others. If someone comes to us in need of shoes and we don’t have their size, we’ll make sure we get shoes for them. We’ll also offer free haircuts if that’s what someone needs to feel confident and look great.”
Clothing on the top floor of One TwentySeven will be for sale. Other clothing also will be available in sorting and organizing areas downstairs just to keep things from being cluttered on the main floor. “Those in need of free clothing will get first pick,” Stephens said.
Many of the best items in the store will come as a result of clothing drives at Bfearless in Walnut Creek. “They offer customers discounts on new purchases for bringing back gently worn items during those events,” Stephens said.
In addition to Stephens, other board members overseeing the One TwentySeven project are Howard Dugger of the Canal Dover Association, Tonya Schlabach of Bfearless and Nick Shrock of Zinck’s Fabric in Berlin. Stephens said Dugger assisted with obtaining the location for One TwentySeven.
“This idea actually started about 11 years ago,” Stephens said. “I was sitting in church, and the whole idea came to me. I wrote it all down right away, and I still have it. And everything on that list has been accomplished, in order. The Holy Spirit had a job for me to do.”
Stephens has high hopes for the new store and its mission in the community. “Some people have just had bad luck or find themselves in a difficult situation. We want to offer not just clothing, but also help with things like electric bills or things like that.”
A separate arm of the organization will handle such assistance distributions. The store also will work with other nonprofit organizations in the area to make sure they are reaching the maximum number of people in need.
Bfearless will join in the grand opening weekend with a pop-up shop at One TwentySeven, offering their lines of clothing as well.
Find One TwentySeven on Facebook and call them at 330-231-8524.