COMMUNITY CLOTHES
CHARITY 2009 ANNUAL
OCTOBER SALE TO
BENEFIT DRAGONFLY
FOREST, INC.
On June 2, 2009, members
of the Community Clothes
Charity (CCC) met at The
Village Hall in Spread
Eagle Village in
Strafford, PA to prepare
invitations and
publicity for their
upcoming sale, October
29, 30, and 31, of new
and gently used designer
ladies clothing at The
Village Hall site.
Responsible for this
once-a-year designer
clothing resale event
notable for drawing
fashion-savvy shoppers
from as far away as
Washington and
Connecticut, these
volunteers gathered to
address over 3000 bright
yellow announcement
cards, plan October’s
sale, and select a
beneficiary for 2010.
With past recipients as
diverse as Children’s
Hospital, Bryn Mawr
Hospital’s Comprehensive
Breast Center, and the
HMS School for Children
with Cerebral Palsy, the
CCC has had a large
impact on Philadelphia
and the Main Line during
its 32-year history.
The significant amount
of money raised by this
annual sale goes to a
different worthy charity
each year, usually one
that is involved with
issues helping women and
children. In the past
ten years alone, the
group has donated over
$1,400,000 to local
beneficiaries. Last
year, the $190,000
profit from the 2008
sale went toward the
construction of a new
aquatic center at
Overbrook School for the
Blind. This state of
the art facility is now
being used for
instruction, education,
recreation, and
therapeutic activities.
The proceeds of this
year’s October sale will
be directed to Dragonfly
Forest. Dragonfly
Forest, Inc., a 501
(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization, is
singularly committed to
offering seriously ill
children the opportunity
to enjoy an overnight
camp experience, free of
charge, in an
environment that is safe
and equipped to meet a
variety of physical and
medical needs.
Dragonfly Forest exists
to return a sense of
normalcy to a child
whose life has been
turned upside down by a
serious illness, autism
or other disorders.
This close-knit group of
civic-minded women run
the show themselves,
sorting clothes,
assigning prices, and
planning displays for
top quality clothing and
accessories donated by
upscale stores and
stylish friends. “These
are fabulous clothes
that may have been worn
just a few times – to a
cocktail party, a dinner
dance, or business
meeting,” says one
participant, “and, they
are quickly donated to
the CCC at the end of
the season.” The CCC
annual sale features
well-known names such as
Chanel, Armani, Lacroix,
St. John, Escada, and
other designer labels
that attract collectors
interested in couture
and high fashion. Many
other popular labels are
also well represented
among the large
selection of coats,
suits, dresses, evening
gowns, and sportswear
that will all be marked
down to a fraction of
their original cost.
There is always a good
selection of new items
donated by noted
designers, a small range
of unique “Vintage”
items, as well as a nice
selection of fine
children's clothes.
In addition to selling
clothing and shoes, the
CCC sale offers a
treasure trove of new
and donated costume
jewelry, gift items,
belts, hats,
accessories, scarves,
handbags, through “The
Boutique”. Like each of
the estimated 50 racks
of designer clothing
offered for sale, the
Boutique is replenished
every day with new
items, and experienced
shoppers know to return
to The Village Hall on
both Friday and Saturday
as racks and tables are
refilled.
The sale is held each
year in The Village
Hall, at the far western
end of Spread Eagle
Village, 503 W.
Lancaster Ave. (Route
30) in Strafford, PA
19087. Cash, checks,
Visa and MasterCard will
be accepted. The dates
for this year's sale are
Thursday, October 29
from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm,
Friday, October 30, from
9:30 am to 4:00 pm, and
Saturday, October 31,
from 9:30 am to 12
noon. A $5.00 donation
at the door is requested
on Thursday only. The
CCC has an informational
website featuring
interactive directions
by MapQuest at:
www.communityclothescharity.org
.
In 2009, the CCC is glad
to be raising money to
help support Dragonfly
Forest, Inc., a 501
(c)(3) not-for-profit
organization, that is
singularly committed to
offering children with
disorders and who are
seriously ill the
opportunity to enjoy an
overnight camp
experience. This is
provided free of charge,
in an environment that
is safe and equipped to
meet a variety of
physical and medical
needs. Dragonfly Forest
exists to return a sense
of normalcy to a child
whose life has been
turned upside down by
their serious illness or
disorder. Dragonfly
Forest is free of any
charge to children and
their families; the
generosity of
individuals,
corporations and
foundations provides the
financial resources to
send children to camp.
To learn more about
Dragonfly Forest, please
visit
www.dragonflyforest.org
or contact us at
610-298-1820 or
info@dragonflyforest.org.
The co-chairs of the
Community Clothes
Charity are Pamela S. K.
Campbell, of Bryn Mawr
and Janice N. Wetherill,
of Malvern. For more
information on the sale,
please contact our
Executive Secretary,
Rosemarie Colyvas, in
the CCC office at 610
995-9096 or at
info@communityclothescharity.org
