S2 Ep79: GOOD DEEDS: Top Buttons St. Pete Ribbon Cutting September 9/20 @noon

Tampa Bay Podcast Archive

RadioStPete.com news director and host Nanette Wiser shines a spotlight on another Good Burger. One of the newest members of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce is Top Buttons St. Pete, an upscale thrift boutique with a big mission to make a difference for women affected by domestic violence and human trafficking. Located at 861 Central Ave. in downtown St. Pete, owner Sara Garas describes its mission as "sustainable shopping, where fashion meets philanthropy. Our boutique offers a curated selection of high-quality, gently used clothing & accessories. Proceeds from every purchase directly benefit local girls at risk, providing them with free clothing, essential workshops on resume building, interview skills, and basic life skills."
Garas' journey to launching Top Buttons and helping women is admirable."I am a girl who grew up in the Middle East and experienced firsthand the challenges and the obstacles for a woman to survive and succeed. I am one of four girls. I lost my dad when I was really young, and we worked very hard to be able to succeed in the Middle East. I worked with a Proctor and Gamble globally, and I always made sure there was an initiative to help women who who really need the resources to succeed. When I moved to Thailand, I worked with an organization there that provided safe housing for survivors of human trafficking."
Her friend in Pasco County started Top Buttons there, and Garas franchised the concept for Pinellas County after discovering a girl who had escaped her captivity in her backyard one night. Piqued by this issue, she researched human trafficking and discovered that Florida and Tampa Bay were battling this scourge. Now, she is partnering with other organizations including Heels To Heal, and hopes to serve women 18 to 30 with clothes for getting back to work as well as job hunting skills and more. If you have gently used clothes, please bring them to Top Buttons. If you can help with workshops and other resources, please contact Garas.
Learn about their mission: www.tbstpete.org
Social media: facebook@topbuttonsstpete, ---- Instagram @topbuttons.stpete
RIBBON CUTTING: 9/20 @noon The ribbon-cutting will feature live music and entertainment, complimentary refreshments, raffle and giveaways and more.
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