community
by tim parks AUNTIE HELEN’S 2.0
It’s not just a little old thrift store on 30th Street anymore. We have a new 10,000 square foot store on El Cajon
Auntie Helen’s was founded in 1988 by Gary Cheatham, as a fluff and fold laundry service housed in a one-car garage. Over the years the grass roots, community-based establishment has expanded to include a thrift store located at 4127 30th Street in North Park, providing assistance to thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Auntie Helen’s has expanded its scope over the
years to also provide blankets and clothing, not only for members, but for the homeless, as well. Persons in need can also be directed to free medical equipment loans and food donations; with funding provided by foundations, government sources, corporations, private donors and the aforemen- tioned thrift store. In an effort to update Auntie Helen’s, the current
thrift shop has been renovated to have more of a “boutique” vibe and to further expand their reach, a second location at 4102 El Cajon Boulevard is set to open onFriday, October 21. The most important overhaul however, is in the way Auntie Helen’s 2.0 will be managed, especially after a fair share of controversy involving a former board member.
The Rage Monthlyspoke to David Turner, the executive director of Auntie Helen’s current board to find out what changes are in store and how they will continue to adhere to their mission statement.
10 RAGE monthly | OCTOBER 2016 .” “Auntie Helen’s generates support for the benefit
of people living with HIV and AIDS by providing a quality, community-based thrift store,” Turner said of the mission statement. His involvement with that mission statement began two years ago, as he explained. “In 2014, when the new board took over the store, I stepped in as President of the board,” Turner said. “Then in February or March of 2016, I stepped in as Executive Director at the request of the board.” The change came about after late community activist Kurt Cunningham, “Realized that there was a problem in the organization.” Which then led to a restructuring of the board of directors. “So basically, he was after his own profit,” Turner said of the former Executive Director. “He did some mismanagement of funds and ultimately that’s how he was ousted from the organization. He brought down a lot of people and the thought was that Auntie Helen’s was going to go down as a result of it. We were not expected to survive.” Turner laid out an agenda for how this type of situation will not transpire again for this long- standing, community staple. “What we have in place right now are six board of directors. We have a solid executive team on the executive board,” he said. “All of our financial handlings are done by a third party bookkeeper and a CPA, so none of that is being handled by the board. We have legal counsel
The grand opening and ribbon cutting for Auntie Helen’s new store at 4102 El Cajon Boulevard, will take pace on Friday, October 21 at 9 a.m. They are in desperate need of volunteers on the sales floor, to run cash registers or work in the warehouse separat- ing clothing, checking electronics and stocking. Look for a “volunteer social” on Sunday, October 2 at 9 a.m., or contact Jason Navarro, volunteer coordinator at 619.708.1773. For more information about the organization, call 619.501.0209 or go
toauntiehelens.org.
involved. We have the necessary liability insurance to support an organization of this size.” As for the future of Auntie Helen’s, Turner says,
“It’s a solid structured organization with fiscal responsibilities that all of the board members and staff hold.” With its flagship store receiving a makeover and having a “higher quality, bigger thrift store boutique environment,” Turner is excited for the prospects to come for Auntie Helen’s in both its current and new incarnations. “It’s not just a little old thrift store on 30th Street anymore,” Turner explained. “We have a new 10,000 square foot store coming on El Cajon near the 15. The board made a conscious effort to take Auntie Helen’s to the next level.” He continued, “The goal in achieving that is to
build the organization and pay it forward to the next level, as far as thrift store size. We’ve also partnered with the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation and the HIV Funding Collaborative, who have been our partners through this whole process of expansion. So that way, we can make sure the thrift store experience is at what it should be.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64