Volunteers are the backbone of the Seattle Children’s Hospital Bargain Boutique, raising money for uncompensated care.
Our Mission: Seattle Children’s Hospital Bargain Boutiques exist to provide support for uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s, and to ensure that no child will be turned away because of inability to pay medical costs. To foster this support, our goal is to provide quality new and used merchandise at fair prices in a pleasant environment.
Our History: Seattle Children’s was founded in 1907 to establish care for the community’s poor and disabled children. Retail had its origins after WWI, when guilds sold war surplus to raise funds. Seattle Chil¬dren’s Retail is now made up of six stores.
Our Volunteers: Volunteers are the heart of our stores. We are constantly in need of help to acquire merchandise, sort, price, create displays, cashier and sell merchandise. We are always looking for experts to help us in different areas of the store.
Here’s what our volunteers have to say about the time spent helping at the Bargain Boutique:
Jean: She is part of the Mona Westover Guild and loves volunteering because of the great service, worthy cause and the wonderful people.
Bobbie: She has an amazing love for Seattle Children’s Hospital and enjoys the “Monday Crew.”
Jane: “I love it and it lives in my heart!”
Tani: This experience is a “labor of love.” She loves the volunteers, staff and most of all the cause.
Stevie: She is simply amazing, warm and extremely devoted to helping the kids. She looks forward to seeing all the volunteers, staff and helping at the boutique.
This month we honor Arline and Linda:
Longtime volunteers, and best friends, Linda and Arline can be found in the Olympia store every Wednesday.
Once upon a time in a small town called Olympia, two sweet ladies met and became friends. This is their story…..
Arline and Linda have been good friends for 22 years. That is incredible in itself. They met through their husbands who were both involved in the real estate market.
Linda was a dental hygienist and Arline was an L & I claims representative. Linda has three sons and one daughter, and four grandsons and one granddaughter. Arline has two sons and one grandson. Linda loves photography and spends her free time looking for the perfect picture. Arline loves gardening and flowers, reading and taking walks.
Linda was taking pictures downtown when she noticed the Bargain Boutique and saw a sign in the window that volunteers were needed. She applied, and called Arline and told her “she had to volunteer too.”
They both said that the love they feel for the children at Seattle Children’s Hospital is what keeps them inspired and motivated to continue helping as long as they can. The extra bonus they get each Wednesday is volunteering alongside so many other people with the same love and dedication. Stop by some Wednesday and meet these two fantastic ladies – they will put a smile on your face and love in your heart.
