San Pancho Newsletter - January 14, 2011

The week before Christmas marked a momentous accomplishment for the San Pancho organization, entreamigos, as the community welcomed The Recicla Shop into the radical, supportive landscape of the non-profit community center. The Shop opened its doors at a highly anticipated opening event to celebrate the expansion of entreamigos' resources and the organization's mission of environmental stewardship as they bring recycled, local products to the community members. The store will carry an array of gently used clothes and housewares for all members of the family at reasonable prices. Entreamigos organizers and the financial benefactors, XOCODIVA Artican Chocolates and the Victoria Women in Need Society, believe that the new resource will foster a greater sense of agency for all of San Pancho's citizens as they revitalize their local economy and the self sustaining capacity of their cultural community center, entreamigos.

I was involved with this transformative process as the store was collecting donations weeks prior to the opening, the space was coming into its own as a reputable, professional place, and the entire community was coming together to set up for the opening event and fashion show. I aided the organizers through every step of the process, which were extremely invaluable lessons in entrepreneurship, small business management, and basic skills of resourcefulness. I witnessed the space from its roots with a freshly painted artistic facade come into a fully functioning self sustaining business within 10 days. Here's the photographic evidence to prove it.

Here is a beautiful tree mural painted by members of the Victoria Women in Need Society from Victoria, B.C., Canada whom have established a very successful chain of secondhand boutique stores in the Victoria metro area that sponsors local women in need. Now, they are expanded their grasps by being the major benefactors of The Recicla Shop project.

The beginning.....all the furniture and fixtures were recycled from other businesses or from the site itself.

The store opened two days after this photo was taken.

The product goes out.....and the kids are already scoping out the scene.

Within a few short days its ready for opening!

Wow, it was stunning!

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OPENING NIGHT

The representatives of Victoria Women in Need Society and entreamigos pull the curtains during the grand inauguration!

And here they come....! The Store was well applauded and received by the community. There was even a huge profit margin made within the 2 hours on opening night, and it was only the beginning!

The community members gather as the fashion show nears. The show was organized to showcase the fun yet functional elements of the Recicla Shop's clothing and athletic equipment.

Of course I couldn't be left in the dust! I adorned an exotic, playful frock that accessorized my tango, eastern Indian, and salsa dance number I performed on the catwalk!

It was a great night and a fabulous beginning for a landmark amongst the San Pancho community.

When you contribute gently used clothes, housewares, toys, beach gear and other items to entreAmigos you directly support our educational projects and programs. If you are in town please consider cleaning out your closets, kitchen and store rooms and if you are soon to visit from elsewhere please consider the extra cost of a bag on the airplane as a well worth it contribution towards the education of the children of San Pancho.

Bringing Home the Mantra: Reuse, Reduce, Recycle!