Unique Thrift Store hosts “looks for less” Fashion Show

December 16, 2009 — To celebrate the growth and continuation of the third year of its Unique Closet Program, Unique Thrift Store in Silver Spring, Md. hosted a fashion show on Wednesday, Dec. 9, featuring affordable looks with style. Benefitting more than 80 Montgomery County nonprofits, agencies and schools, the Unique Closet Program provides $100,000 in store gift certificates annually to be used by local families in need to purchase quality clothing and household goods. Showing off affordable “looks for less” from Unique Thrift Store, the fashion show’s volunteer models all benefit from the program, which has helped approximately 10,000 needy Montgomery County residents since it started in 2007. Announcing another donation to Montgomery County organizations for 2010, Unique Thrift Store Principal Dave Kloeber (second from left) presents the $100,000 check to Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett (right), with Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen (third from left), and several volunteer models from the organizations that benefit from the gift certificates.

Through the Kitchen Door Founder and President Liesel Flashenberg (right) joins Nancy Hinojosa before the volunteer models hit the runway in professional wear. Nancy has thrived since participating in Through the Kitchen Door, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering recent immigrants, low-income adults and at-risk youth through basic cooking and culinary arts training methods.

Working the runway with her two daughters, single mom Karen Figueroa, 20, has benefitted from the Mental Health Association’s Families Foremost program, which provides child care so she can continue going to school.