AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
From the moment the Partners In Care Upscale Resale Boutique opened in 2007 at the corner of Ritchie Highway and East West Boulevard, it has attracted shoppers from across Anne Arundel County. They’ve known they’ll find carefully selected merchandise there at affordable prices.
A fundraising arm of the Partners In Care organization run by volunteers, the boutique sells limited amounts of furniture and accessories but is primarily known for its quality clothing, jewelry, fine China and housewares. A group of volunteers referred to as “The Stagers” arrive every Monday morning to create beautiful displays combining clothing, China, glassware and art.
Though gently used, shoppers can immediately see that the merchandise is of high quality and well cared for. Boutique manager Tracey Dill oversees the operation while Boutique shift manager Matija Hoppe works with the volunteers. Hoppe took a few minutes to show us around and explain the color rotation system used to assure that merchandise moves out every few weeks keeping what’s available fresh.
“This week, items bearing purple tags are marked for a 25% discount while those marked with green tags like those on the For Sale rack are on clearance at 75% off,” she said. “The items that don’t sell we pass on to other organizations like Orphan Grain Train. nothing is wasted.”
Hoppe further explained that PIC’s “phenomenal” volunteers working at the back of the boutique take very good care of the items they are donated. They do a great job getting the merchandise priced, prepared and on the floor the same day it’s donated.
Longtime volunteers Barb Amisatei and Joyce Kronneberger were working behind the scenes doing pricing and preparation.
“I’m pricing items, mostly housewares, to go out on the floor,” Kroneberger said. “Barb prices and prepares the clothes you see on the racks behind us that will move out there too. Stagers come in each Monday morning to work on displays with the items we’ve sent out.”
Back out on the floor, we roamed the aisles and discovered that quite a few shoppers were checking out the racks of clothing. Fall and winter season fashions were on display with a number of sweaters and jackets making an appearance.
Well-displayed cookware, including some priced by Kroneberger, was a big draw too.
While roaming the floor we observed that the checkout counter was constantly busy. At one point, volunteer Mercedes Cheatham was working the register. We later ran into her out on the floor admiring the quality of a bright red jacket from Jones of New York while noting that it’s hard to find such upscale merchandise these days.
Cheatham, who has worked as a volunteer for the PIC Upscale Resale Boutique for a year now, loves it.
“It’s fun. The store is beautiful and people enjoy coming here,” Cheatham says. “It’s like a gift shop that has wonderful things people have donated – sometimes items from the past that bring back fond memories for those who buy them.”
She added that she likes meeting all kinds of customers – decorators looking for artwork or accessories, realtors looking for decorative objects for use in staging a property for sale. She also sees more and more young people coming in from nearby condos or apartments who are just starting out and are looking for cookware or sets of China, cutlery or glassware that are less expensive than similar items in a department store.
The Boutique is but one part of the Partners In Care Service Exchange and Time Banking operation which helps older adults live independently in their own homes and actively engage in the community. The Partners In Care offices are located next to the Boutique where we found Director of Operations Amy Van Orden.
Van Orden explained to us that one year ago Partners In Care was acquired by Hospice of the Chesapeake and is now part of an umbrella group called Chesapeake Health Partners – a kind of health continuum.
“There are still six ways we serve the community through our five original programs,” she said.
“Our Ride Share Program provides volunteer-driven rides to seniors for medical appointments, errands, and more while our Mobility Bus provides accessible group transportation in Anne Arundel and Frederick counties for shared trips and outings. Our Member Care Program features Personal Emergency Response Systems, phone buddies, warm houses, and social learning opportunities.
“Our Repairs With Care Program provides skilled volunteers to tackle small handyman tasks so seniors can stay safely in their homes. Our peer-support Veterans-Helping-Veterans Program enables veteran volunteers to serve fellow veterans with dignity and shared understanding. Lastly there are our Boutiques. There are now two, our original Anne Arundel PIC Upscale Resale Boutique here in Pasadena and our Frederick, Maryland Upscale Resale Boutique.”
Van Orden added that some things have changed since the acquisition by Hospice of the Chesapeake. Partners In Care had expanded over the past few years to having five branches including those in Hagerstown, Montgomery County and the Eastern Shore. Only two branches remain – the original Anne Arundel County branch in Pasadena and the branch in Frederick.
The Time-Sharing opportunities remain unchanged with volunteers working three-hour shifts while banking hours for which they’ll receive services in the future. There is a For Fee program allowing those who are not PIC volunteers to pay $25 per week for services.
Van Orden, who worked for a non-profit organization previously, clearly loves her job which includes overseeing various events including a Veterans Lunch being held Monday, October 12th at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Moving back into the boutique for a final look around, we took a moment to admire the collection of gems in the fine jewelry case. Jewelry is featured once each year at a fine jewelry sale.
We ran into a customer we already knew – Joyce Leona Cavey a grant writer for Langton Green – who was buying a lovely pair of slippers.
Volunteer Gerri Wilson, who checked Joyce out among others, has worked with PIC for nine years. Wilson said she’s volunteered as a driver and has also worked behind the scenes pricing and prepping donated items but best enjoys being a checker.
For information on Partners In Care and its Boutique, visit Anne Arundel County – Partners in Care.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. Jing Ying also offers a homeschool Kung Fu program this fall. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high-quality consistent care.
