Every child is entitled to medical care, and the reopening of a West Olympia boutique means you can donate items to help make that happen. The Care for a Cure Boutique, now under the umbrella of Vets for Kids, sells donated items to help cover the cost of uncompensated pediatric healthcare at Seattle Children’s Hospital, a facility ranked among the top 10 U.S. children’s hospitals.
Retail Manager and Vets for Kids President Chris Shultz reopened and revitalized the local charity store and boutique after Seattle Children’s discontinued direct retail fundraising and closed its Olympia retail outlet in May 2025. Shultz had managed the boutique for many years and wanted to continue its good work. That’s why he found a way to open the doors once again in February 2026 at the same location by forming Vets for Kids, a new nonprofit offering a local donations path and partnerships with four local hospital guilds.
Shultz predicted they would experience gentle resurgence among shoppers and donors once they discovered the recharged boutique was open again, but he guessed wrong. “I thought it would be a ‘slow roll,’ but we picked up right where we left off, with the same staff, all 57 volunteers returning and many of the same customers,” he says. “The reception from the community has been amazing.”
Donated Merchandise Accepted at Refurbished Olympia Boutique
Shultz says the store’s closure last year left a big hole for him and in the community, including volunteers and staff. He thought about what he wanted to do next and decided he wanted to continue doing what he loved. He formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Vets for Kids, and put a board together. After considering other locations to re-open the store, they decided that their former space in the shopping complex at the busy corner of Harrison Avenue and Division Street on Olympia’s westside remained the right spot. “Everybody knew where we were,” he says.
They signed a new lease and refreshed and brightened the store with paint, new floors, new lights, and a new and reorganized inventory, and held a pizza party to bring back volunteers and staff. On February 17, 2026, the doors opened.
The store dedicates its net proceeds from sale of donated items to cover the cost of uncompensated care for pediatric patients at Seattle Children’s. Treasures go on the floor every day, offering “a unique selection of new and gently used items at accessible prices, including designer brands and high-end pieces not typically found in similar stores,” Shultz says.
The Care For a Cure Boutique accepts the following merchandise in good, saleable condition:
- Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing
- Household items, books, jewelry
- Collectibles and decorations
They offer sales from time to time, plus these ongoing discounts:
- Seniors: On regular priced items on Wednesdays, 20% off for 55+ customers and guests
- Military: On full priced items, 20% off for customers with ID who are active duty, veteran or dependent
Local Community Supports Seattle Children’s Hospital Uncompensated Care Coverage Through Boutique’s Donations and Guild Partnerships
Children throughout Thurston County and the Pacific Northwest have received treatment at Seattle Children’s Hospital, which was founded in 1907 with a promise that the region’s kids will receive essential healthcare regardless of a family’s ability to pay. Shultz knows the importance of that medical care first-hand, as his premature twins, now 21, were treated at the hospital. He was grateful, and his experience inspired him to work with the hospital and operate the Olympia retail store for many years. “It was a great fit for me, and a way to give back,” he says.
Shultz says many locals had similar good experiences at Seattle Children’s and want to return that positive energy. And, as for him, the connections stayed with them. “These are the most interesting people I have ever worked with, including the volunteer community, the donations community, and the shopping community,” he says.
The Olympia boutique partners with four area nonprofit guilds of the Seattle Children’s Guild Association, an all-volunteer fundraising organization. The local partners are the Mona Westover Guild established in 1927, the Garfield Guild established in 1934, the Holly Guild established in 1957 and the Friends of Olympia Guild established in 2025. The store also includes a space where the guilds sell handmade items and hold bake sales.
Volunteer at the Vets for Kids’ Care for a Cure Boutique in Olympia
The Care for a Cure Boutique’s volunteers work the front of the store, curate donated items at the back of the store, perform data entry and otherwise keep the shop running. Shultz says they will match the volunteers’ skills and interests to the tasks. Contact Chris Schultz if you are interested in volunteering at the store or on its board.
Vets for Kids Care for a Cure Boutique
2020 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia
360.764.5552
