Totally Yours Thrift Store
In response to the needs of youth, Youth Connections is implementing the Totally Yours Thrift Store to provide daily living and household items and hands-on work experience for teens and young adults (ages 16-21) who are currently in foster care or have aged-out of the foster care system. Using a ‘direct service’ pathway, the store concept provides youth with a wide range of independent living and employment skills while providing a benefit to the foster care community. This will also teach youth how to spend wisely and prepare them for living on their own. The store will allow those youth to have a more dignified way to shop for their needs and still receive quality merchandise in a youth, friendly environment. The store will also provide a way for those youth to get their needs met once they emancipate from the system.
Store Front Location and Hours of Operation
The store will be located in the garage area of Youth Connections the physical address is:
1330 Foster Ave, Suite 200
Nashville, TN 37211
The garage will be used as the main entrance for customers. Based on feedback from youth that interact with the center, the store will be open as follows:
Monday – Friday 1 pm – 5 pm
Hours are subject to change based on needs of the population served.
Population Servicing
The thrift store will work with youth ages 16-23 that are in foster care or have aged-out of foster care. A youth may be referred to the store by their agency/state caseworker. However, youth must obtain a signed voucher from their agency/state caseworker in order to take advantage of this service.
Donations
Each month Youth Connections holds a drive for a department in the thrift shop. This month’s focus is the Children’s Area. Items needed include:
- Diapers (Sizes 1-4)
- Wipes
- Clothing (newborn up to size 8)
- Shoes (all sizes)
- Socks (all sizes)
- Coats/jackets/snowsuits (all sizes)
- Blankets (infant)
- Bottles & Sip Cups
- Car seats and booster seats
- Underwear & T-shirts (all sizes)
- No toys, formula, food/cereals, or books are needed at this time
