San Carlos Self Storage of Florida Raises $3.5K for PACE Center for Girls

San Carlos Self Storage in Fort Myers, Fla., recently helped raise $3,500 for PACE Center for Girls, a juvenile-delinquency intervention and prevention program for at-risk girls ages 12 to 18 in Lee County. The proceeds were raised through Love That Dress! (LTD), an annual dress-sale gala and fundraiser that benefits the nonprofit organization. The self-storage facility, an LTD sponsor, stored the dresses for free and hosted a post-gala sale event.

As part of the annual LTD gala, participants can choose from thousands of new and gently worn dresses and accessories. The event also features a silent auction, cocktails, hors doeuvres and a private selection of artisan confections. The sale at San Carlos Self Storage featured dresses that were not sold during the main event. In addition to storage, the facility provided space for dress pricing and tagging.

We are very happy with the turnout from our first post-LTD storage-unit sale. We surpassed our initial goal of raising $3,000 for PACE by this event, said Kendra Sutton, chair of the LTD event. Those [who] were unable to attend the main event had the opportunity to support PACE while getting fabulous clothing for 50 percent off.

Gowns not sold through the storage unit were donated by PACE to Hope Chest, a retail center benefitting Hope HealthCare Services, an organization that provides specialized care, including hospice, for people with life-changing illnesses. Additional unsold clothing was given to Goodwill. Through its partnership with Goodwill, PACE receives vouchers for girls in its programs. When Goodwill receives clothing donations in the name of PACE, girls from the center can redeem the vouchers for clothing or other needed items.

The girls at PACE often come to the center with very little clothing or belongings, Sutton said. These vouchers allow them to purchase things they need for themselves or their families, which takes away some of the burden, especially during the holidays.