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Silverlining Resale Boutique: Catering to Special Needs
Written By: Kisatchy Le'stelle Owens

Culver City’s new designer resale boutique, Silverlining has made its mission to teach vocational skills to students with special needs related to autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, developmental delays, abuse and emotional problems. As a division of non-profit organization The Help Group, the boutique serves as a training center allowing students to increase their level of independence, self-confidence in conjunction with developing significant life skills that could potentially lead to securing a future job.

“It’s hard to get job experience in this difficult economy, especially for the young people that we work with who need extra guidance before being able to join the workforce” said Susan Berman, Chief Operating Officer of The Help Group.

It’s pretty apparent that fashion and learning is a combination many seem to take a liking to. With Silverlining, it’s no different.  Here the students are able to partake in its retail operations where they obtain donations, select and prepare donations for sale, customer service, assist with marketing, merchandising and much more.

As for the feelings in regards to the whole experience, a Help Group student training at Silverlining stated “It’s fun working here because I love clothes and I love The Help Group and I love the awareness of the ability within the disability, It makes me feel amazing, happy, excited, and motivated!”

At 60-95% off the original retail price, consumers can purchase new, vintage, gently used fashions and designer clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children. Many private donations have including the likes of luxury brands such as Prada, Versace, Manolo Blahnik and Gucci. The Help Group uses proceeds from the sales to fund a variety of programs specifically for students with special needs.

With the holidays near, each purchase is clearly a gift. Whether you be the buyer, the receiver, the student/seller, benefits of a Silverlining product goes beyond the sale. As Beman expressed, “This venture has the added beauty of benefiting the students, those who donate to the store, and our community – a silver lining for all.”

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