A Potpourri of Worthy Causes Holiday Gift-Giving
that Restores Spiritual Meaning by Lily Viola
In “Less Stuff, More Happiness: How to Transform the Modern Shopping Experience,” author Judith Fertig suggests that when the time and money we spend shopping not only please the recipi- ents, but also do good in the world, then the focus for Christmas and Hanukkah can be returned to its real spiritual meaning. In the San Diego area, a shortcut to help anyone achieve this holiday goal is a shopping expedition to Potpourri on the Coast, a unique resale boutique. Potpourri, which has a local following of Oceanside residents, also enjoys a clientele from all over the United States. Profits from sales of vintage décor, clothing, jewelry, furniture and gift items serve a higher purpose and larger audience beyond shoppers. A purchase from this voca- tional training site for mentally chal- lenged adults might qualify to put any gift-giver on a pedestal, especially if
the recipient is aware of the association between Potpourri On the Coast and Training, Education & Research Institute, Inc. (TERI), a private nonprofit agency with programs that enrich the lives of children and adults with autism and other devel- opmental and learning disabilities throughout their life.
Store Manager Lois Ruiz, a pleasant woman who genuinely enjoys sales and helping cus- tomers, began working for TERI in 2008, after her son, who is severely autistic, began attending TERI’s Learning Acad- emy, designed to serve
individuals between ages 8 and 22. The school provides one-on-one education- al and therapeutic programs to students, primarily those with autism, whose behavior precludes their inclusion in public school or other private special education programs. “After my son went to live in one of TERI’s 13 residen- tial homes in the North County area, I decided that the only organization I
wanted to work at and make money for was the one that enriched his life and gave me peace of mind,” says Ruiz. Delighted to help customers locate just the right item, Ruiz explains what draws many individuals to the shop. “A large percentage of the people who shop here are looking for unique things that can’t be found in today’s retail stores. That especially applies to those who are into retro items from the 1960s.” Two other types of regular shoppers are either looking for treasures they can resell on eBay or things they can fix up. “People come here all the time looking for furniture to recover, fabrics to recover with, or fun bar- gains,” says Ruiz. A proponent of recycling and
helping the environment, Ruiz is always particularly delighted when she discov- ers that customers patronize the store to recycle, repurpose and reuse, as well as to satisfy a need for helping a wor- thy charity. “I feel good knowing that we’re providing a way to assist people who want to help the developmentally disabled and the environment,” advises Ruiz. “In these tough times, it’s difficult to come up with the money to give to your charity of choice. Here, we offer people a chance to fulfill a need to be charitable by giving away the things they don’t want anymore. The nice thing is that the environment benefits, too.”
To learn more about TERI programs and services and for information about Pot- pourri on the Coast, visit
TERIinc.org. Potpourri is located at 1024 S. Coast Hwy., Oceanside 92054. Call 760-772-1880 or email Potpourri@
TERIinc.org.
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760-846-1861 November 2010
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