CORNWALL, Ontario – Cornwall’s women’s shelter Maison Baldwin House has announced plans to open a boutique on Second Street in Cornwall.
Slated to open in late March or early April, the boutique will be located at 331 Second Street West and will be run not for profit by volunteers for the benefit of Maison Baldwin House.
Baldwin House has been struggling from a lack of government funding for a few years and developed the idea of Serendipity Boutique as a way to raise funds.
"We’ve been experiencing a shortfall for a few years now," said Debbie Fortier, Executive Director of Maison Baldwin House. "We run a 24/7, 365 day a year facility on less than $500, 000 a year. All money raised from the boutique will directly go to covering the operating costs of Maison Baldwin House."
All of the items on sale at Serendipity will be acquired through donations. Donations can be made at the back of the building or at Baldwin House after hours.
The name Serendipity means to find treasures by happenstance,” explained Debbie. “That’s what we want our customers to experience – finding those designer jeans, or that high end hand bag, amongst the everyday merchandise, at the same price. Those kinds of deals keep people wanting to come back.”
There will also be a loyalty card system. Women and children staying at Baldwin House will have access to these loyalty cards automatically so that they will be able to shop at the boutique free of charge.
At the beginning, Serendipity Boutique will be open from Wednesdays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., but Fortier hopes to increase that frequency as more volunteers make themselves available.
If you are interested in volunteering at the boutique, please contact Maison Baldwin House’s Volunteer Coordinator, Danielle MacNeil at (613)938-3903 or by email at mbhpubvol@baldwinhouse.ca
