DONATION DENIM SWAP

JAFFI'S BOUTIQUE - SEPTEMBER 2021

Overview: It's that time of year again! We love getting you into a new pair of designer denim for a cause, and we are especially excited to support our favorite local women-empowerment organization: The Pace Center for Girls - Jacksonville.

What is it? Each year at Jaffi’s we holds a denim swap that allows our customers to shop new designer jeans for a discounted price when they donate a gently used pair! Each pair we receive will be donated to The Pace Center for Girls of Jacksonville. The Pace Center is dedicated to changing the lives of girls through the development of critical life, health and mental health, and academic skills. Their successful and proven program model has changed the life trajectory of more than 40,000 girls and is recognized as one of the nation’s leading advocates for girls!!!

YOUR donations make a big difference in these young girls’ lives. Let's help them feel fabulous in some designer jeans while you feel ahh-mazing in your new pair(s).

Why Denim Swap? Pace provides the attention and awareness necessary for growth in hundreds, even thousands of girls' academic and personal lives. The team members at Pace recognize the experiences that have impacted these young women and act as a wonderful support system to help them achieve a bright future despite sometimes traumatic circumstances.

We love helping The Pace Center for Girls of Jacksonville because we are strong believers in their vision. The Pace Center nurtures our nation's youth and instills life-long guiding principles that set their young ladies up for success. Each and every one of their students has a strong voice that is meant to be heard. They have the potential to achieve their dreams and the heart to embrace who they are and who they want to become. By supporting this organization, you are helping the development of these young women and the paths to their future.

Your donation will give these girls something to look forward to. The right pair of jeans have the power to put a smile on anyone’s face, and that’s the goal of our denim swap!

We asked Emilie a few questions about The Pace Center and her responses will have you as excited as we are to help this amazing organization! So, get your denim ready, it's donating time.

Q & A

With Emilie Christenson

Q. Why do you love donating to Pace Center for Girls?

A. Giving back to Pace each year makes my heart happy because they are such an amazing organization. The staff and students at Pace are an inspiration to so many and proof-positive that hard work, loving support, and encouragement are key to success and reallydo help make dreams come true.

Q. Why do you believe its so important to have a center for these girls to be a part of?

A. The Pace Center was founded in Jacksonville in 1985 to give girls in our community the support and resources needed to not only survive - but thrive! They help students improve academically, socially, and also provide vital life skills they will use forever. Every Pace student we've met has been an absolute pleasure and they are so thankful and appreciative of Pace and all that they do. We love being able to help by providing new and gently used clothing as well as financial donations each year.

Q. The values that they learn at Pace such as confidence, self-love, and healthy relationships are so important for young women and girls, being a mother can you speak on the significance of these values and instilling them in your girls?

A. The second I became a mom I decided my #1 job and top priority was to be a positive role-model for my children each and every day. Being confident in who I am as a person taught them to be their own people too. Taking care of myself by eating right, exercising, taking pride in my work, making time for myself and others, taught them to do the same. Having healthy relationships with my husband, family, friends, coworkers, etc. taught them what healthy relationships look and feel like, etc. All of this helps you grow and evolve over time to be the best person you can be and truly love the skin you are in - which is key to empowerment and one of the things I've stressed most as a mom.

Many of the girls at Pace girls come from very challenging circumstances. They are dealing with really hard things like foster care, substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration of a family member, neglect, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, grief, emotional health concerns, low income, and so much more. These girls are incredible and have so much potential - they just need a little help to see light at the end of what may be a very long, dark tunnel - and that's what Pace gives them. I'm "all in" if there's anything we can do to help this invaluable process and be a light for these girls.

Article written by Lauren Worden September 14, 2021
@lauren_worden

Pictured: Jaffi's Model Georgia Pinner

Emilie is the owner of Jaffi's Boutique. Read below to hear about why she loves helping The Pace Center for Girls of Jacksonville...