The need for the boutique became clear after a major fire in downtown Oxford, where 91 people lost everything they owned. Former members of Community of Love Lutheran Church, seeking to support those who had lost so much, committed themselves to continuing our ministry of care in any way possible. In the weeks that followed, it became evident that there was a significant need for warm coats and clothing—not only for our Oxford neighbors but also for nearby communities.

For many years, residents relied on the local thrift shop, which has since closed due to gentrification and rising rent costs. The shop also lost much of its income because people in desperate need of clothing often had no money, leading some to steal items. A caseworker from a local nonprofit shared that even people who had never considered stealing sometimes felt forced to do so when choosing between spending their limited funds on food or clothing. Food always comes first. No one should have to choose between dressing their child and feeding them.

Our vision is to distribute clean, gently used, and laundered clothing in a boutique setting, offering our guests a dignified shopping experience. Donated clothing is sorted and cleaned, and new items are also received. Monetary donations are used to purchase intimate garments such as underwear and socks. All items are provided free of charge.

We serve the greater Southern Chester County area, and no one is turned away based on their address. Our lively and diverse community calls for increased outreach. The boutique serves a wide range of people—including young couples and families, a population of senior citizens, veterans and migrant workers with their extended families, some of whom are newcomers. Shoppers may self‑refer or be referred by nonprofits, churches, schools, and service agencies, but all visits are by appointment to protect each guest’s privacy and dignity. Volunteers and staff not only provide clothing but also connect clients with essential services. They partner with organizations such as New Moms, Neighborhood Services Center, KACS, and SILO, which offer case management, housing assistance, and weekly food support. Many clients—especially newcomers who have experienced trauma—are connected with counseling services. The boutique also serves as a liaison with local school districts to help secure needed services for youth, which is vital to their success.

The love of God shines through our volunteers, including differently abled students from Oxford High School who visit twice a week to work in the boutique. They serve while also developing skills for their future careers, gaining experience in a safe and supportive environment. We also value our ecumenical and secular partners, who recognize the importance of this ministry—especially for newcomers seeking a better life, migrants, senior citizens, veterans, and working families. Due to economic strain, many struggle to make ends meet, and we serve numerous individuals who are survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence as they rebuild their lives free from oppression.

In response to this call, the Share the Love Family Boutique stands as a testament to our church’s dedication to fostering community and support. The boutique’s mission and vision have led us to become an officially recognized Synodical Authorized Outreach Mission (SAOM). This status has enabled us to become an official nonprofit, opening opportunities to apply for much‑needed grant funding and corporate and personal donations, which are our primary sources of operating support. Funding from SEPA and the ELCA churchwide organization covers some expenses, but not all. To continue offering a free clothing‑shopping experience, the mission relies heavily on the gifts, talents, and generosity of our community donors.

Transforming our former sanctuary into an outreach clothing mission does not diminish its sacred purpose; it enriches it. The sanctuary has always been a place where the gospel is proclaimed, and that gospel has never been limited to words alone. Jesus himself demonstrated that the good news is revealed through acts of compassion, justice, and tangible care for those on society’s margins.

When we open the doors of this space to serve as a clothing mission, we are giving it a renewed purpose and a warm, welcoming spirit. Instead of pews filled with worshippers, you will see racks of clothing and shelves of shoes—heartfelt symbols of God’s love. Every piece of clothing given freely to someone in need communicates a powerful message: they are seen, valued, and deserving of respect. In this way, the sanctuary remains a sacred space where the marginalized can encounter the living Christ, not through formal worship, but through acts of kindness and compassion.

The gospel has always been about more than doctrine; it is rooted in incarnation. Just as Jesus clothed the naked, fed the hungry, and touched the untouchable, this transformation reshapes the sanctuary to mirror his ministry. It becomes a living parable: a sacred space of worship reaching out to embrace those whom society often overlooks or rejects.

By using our former sanctuary for the Share the Love Family Boutique’s outreach clothing mission, we continue to embody the gospel through our actions. It remains a sanctuary—not merely in name, but in spirit—a place where the marginalized are welcomed, restored, and reminded that God’s love is for them.

Clothed in Grace

Not long ago, a woman visited our clothing mission in Oxford from Lancaster, about an hour away. She explained that she was looking for items for her friends in need. However, as she and her husband browsed—trying on coats and shoes “just to be sure they would fit”—it became clear that the clothing was for themselves. We didn’t question their story, because our goal was not to embarrass them; it was simply to help them through a difficult time.

By the time they finished, their arms were full: bags of clothing, each of them holding a warm new coat and new shoes. The woman smiled and said, “We are so thankful. All of this is going to be great for our friends.” A volunteer replied, “Don’t thank us—thank Jesus. Jesus made this happen for you.”

At that moment, I noticed the woman’s expression change. After asking our volunteer to help her husband carry the bags to the car, I quietly asked if she was okay. She admitted, “It’s not what was said—it’s me. I’ve been very angry with God. I’ve been through a lot, and sometimes I feel like I’m being punished.”

That conversation opened the door to something deeper. Over the following weeks, we spoke often on the phone. I helped her connect with a therapist through a nonprofit that offers affordable and free counseling. Little by little, she began to heal. She also started returning to her Methodist church in Lancaster. In time, she told me, “If I hadn’t come for clothes that day, I might never have come back to church. I might never have gotten over my anger.”

That day, she came seeking clothing, but what she truly received was grace. Through the kindness of volunteers and the ministry of the clothing boutique, she found support, encouragement, and—most of all—the renewing love of Christ, which helped her return to worship and hope.

It is a reminder to all of us that when we share what we have—whether it is clothing, a listening ear, or our presence—God can use it to clothe someone not only with warmth, but with healing and new life in Jesus.

--Sarajean

Maria's Story of Renewal and Restoration

Maria was referred to us by the Neighborhood Center, an outreach nonprofit in Oxford with whom we regularly collaborate to refer and receive clients for services. At the time, Maria was a victim of domestic violence and seven months pregnant, caring for her two‑year‑old daughter. She was living apart from her former partner in a friend’s apartment while waiting for permanent housing. She arrived with very few clothes, having had to leave her residence quickly under police protection.

Our boutique was able to provide clothing for her and her child, along with many infant items in preparation for her newborn’s arrival. Maria was incredibly grateful. She told Sarajean and me that she felt blessed by God in many ways as she shared the story of the abuse she endured during her previous pregnancy and again during her current one with her child’s father and the soon‑to‑arrive baby.

As she was leaving the shop, Ellie told her to call if she needed further assistance, and we would try to help secure gift cards for items we did not have—such as a nursing nightgown for the hospital, personal items for her stay, and clothing to bring the baby home. We also hoped to find a bassinet for her. Maria explained that she might not be able to call because her phone was about to be cut off due to an unpaid bill, leaving her without a way to communicate. She began to tear up, saying she was trying to find a way to pay for it. Her simple phone plan cost only $15 a month. We knew having a phone was vital for her safety and for staying connected with the police, neighborhood services, and our mission ministry. We decided to use some of the gift cards we had to pay for her phone for three months until we could find a more permanent solution.

Maria hugged us, saying, “I'm grateful to God for bringing me to the Boutique” and she felt truly grateful rather than lost.

Over the following months, Maria has been volunteering faithfully for at least four hours each week, even while pregnant and caring for her two‑year‑old, who often naps on bedding in our shop. We are grateful for supporters like Maria who see value in our work and are willing to give back through volunteering. She has been a shining example of living the gospel through her service to others and an inspiration to all of us working alongside her.

-- Ellie