Buying clothing or furniture at the WINGS Boutique and Thrift Store can help victims of domestic violence across the region.
Interim WINGS (Women In Need of God’s Shelter) Executive Director Allen Williams said she is thankful for the loyal customers who support the store and the ministry. The offices and store are now contained in the store location at 327 Broad St.
“I think, having been in the office here and being able to spend full days in the store, I hear people coming in and shopping and it is such a community-based place,” she said. “People actually just come through and visit and enjoy browsing. There are repeat customers that come back over and over that we appreciate. They have a relationship with the store and with WINGS. I think that people really have a heart for the ministry.”
Williams said shoppers and those who donate often feel strongly that the shelter and mission of WINGS is important.
“We do the shelter, and it is for single mothers,” she said. “We are broadening the scope from domestic violence only to help single mothers in transition. If they have to leave where they are for whatever reason and need to transition into new living and they need a safe haven, that is why we are here. We really want to reach out to those moms, single moms that don’t need to be living on somebody’s couch or living in their car; they can transition through the shelter.”
WINGS also offers several programs that Williams says are an outreach of the ministry.
“We don’t want people to not have electricity and water in their homes,” she said. “So if their utilities are going to get cut off, we can pay delinquent bills and we can also pay security deposits for people that are at risk. That falls into homeless prevention. There is actually a classification of the grants and monies that we spend called homeless prevention. Homeless prevention is where we can find housing for them, pay utilities, security deposits or we can transition them through the shelter to another home.”
Grants, money from the store and donations help provide the services that the organization offers, according to Williams.
“I want to start going on the road and speaking to groups about what we do,” she said. “I think that it is good to go into the community and reach out and make them aware of all of the different facets of what we can do. One facet is that we just give clothes out from the store when people are homeless or referred to us by churches.”
The store itself has a little bit of everything for shoppers.
“We have household items,” Williams said. “If you’re moving into an empty house, we have some furniture and all household items. We often have small appliances, sheets, towels, of course, clothing and shoes. Also, our store manager Cindy Darr will set aside things. If you call and say you need something, she will look for that for you and call you back.”
The store has two full-time employees, according to Williams.
“We operate with volunteers, part-time employees and have a work program with the inmates,” she said. “We have a shelter and a thrift store in McComb. The store address in McComb is 1200 LaSalle St. You can go over there and shop, too.”
Donors can drop off items for the store anytime.
“We call it a boutique because we’re not just a thrift store,” Williams said. “We like to believe that we offer good quality items. We call it a boutique because we have good quality products.”
The WINGS Board is comprised of seven members from around the community.
“They feel strongly about the mission of the organization,” Williams said. “In Columbia, we sheltered 78 people and in McComb, 107 women and children. The total value of our outreach is more than $70,000 to the community.”
Williams said the supporters of WINGS are much appreciated by herself and the Board.
“More than 6,000 customers came through the boutique in Columbia,” she said. “It was about the same in McComb. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support. We owe everyone a hug thank you.”
The WINGS Boutique and Thrift Store in Columbia is located at 327 Broad St. The phone number is (601) 736- 9723. The WINGS 24-hour hotline for people in need is (601) 736-5454.
Pictured Above: From left, Cindy Darr, store manager, Allen Williams, interim executive director and Stephanie Cavanaugh, store clerk, enjoy showing off the WINGS Boutique and Thrift Store in Columbia. | Photo by Mark Rogers
