GLOUCESTER – More than 320 thrift fashionistas and hunger-relief supporters attended the sold out The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show presented by its thrift store, Second Glance, on Sunday at The Cut.
The event aligned with New York Fashion Week and Hunger Action Month™, an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.
“Thrifties across Cape Ann and beyond joined us tonight to celebrate the joy of thrifted fashion and support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “The magic of The Open Door’s thrift store, Second Glance, is just that. You can donate and shop for high-quality, one-of-a-kind fashion and so much more, with the knowledge your dollars help put food on the table for our neighbors.”
Many familiar faces made an appearance as models on stage, including Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga and his wife Kellie Verga, The Open Door Director of Finance and HR Marcia Hubbard, The Open Door Director of Advocacy and Development Sarah Grow, Director of Elder Services at the Rose Baker Senior Center Elise Sinagra, Muffy White of Muffy White Organizing & Styling, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Brandigo Global Chris Langathianos, and numerous staff and volunteers of The Open Door.
The fashion show featured three looks: black and white outfits, thrifted chic, and a Hunger Awareness walk featuring orange looks. Orange is the color used to raise hunger awareness. The show was curated by Jackie Colussi, a longtime member of the team at Second Glance, as well as Director of Thrift Operations Susan Zwart with help from Asia Kepka, a volunteer.
“The challenge of putting together thrifted looks was so much fun,” said Colussi. “The best part of this experience for me was seeing people feel happy and confident. A great necklace or a wonderful scarf is not going to change your life, but it might just make you feel good and that’s contagious.”
The evening was also led by emcee Karen Nascembeni, general manager at the North Shore Music Theatre.
At intermission, Mayor Verga issued a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ in Gloucester.
Sponsors of the event gave $5,000 towards hunger-relief, and included a Friend of The Open Door, Muffy White Organizing & Styling, Business Matters in the Visual Arts LLC, Ecosmith Recyclers Inc., and Reverie 73.
About The Open Door
The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.
Founded in 1978, The Open Door is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and community food resource center for low-income residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Boxford, Rowley, Topsfield, and Wenham. In 2023, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 9,836 people from 4,952 households through the distribution of 1.98 million pounds of food.
For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org.
