Unique Boutique: Local Zonta Club has spring fundraiser

RENO -- As they have for more than 40 years, members of the community will gather at the Old Reno School and dig through piles of clothes, purses, bags and more, searching for treasure and helping raise money to help others in the community.

The Zonta of the Mid-Ohio Valley is hosting its Spring Unique Boutique fundraiser at 260 Sandhill Road, Marietta, on Friday from 2-8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Unique Boutique is a biannual event that Zonta MOV holds in the spring and in the fall the first weekend of November, according to Zonta MOV Treasurer Christine Lisk.

Lisk said the Unique Boutique started as a way to give women the chance to get professional clothing and it has transformed into what it is today.

"It was a fundraiser and at the time clothing was more professional," Lisk said of the event's origins. "At the time it was to help women get business suits and stuff."

Zonta MOV kept the event going and now it is for all sorts of clothing for men, women and children. There are also shoes, purses, bags and other accessories and there will be a concession stand selling hot dogs, sloppy joes and drinks, according to Lisk.

Lisk said that Zonta is an international service organization and its goal is to advance the status of women and children on a local and international level.

The Unique Boutique is used to raise funds for programs that do just that.

"Mainly this money from this sale goes to fund our scholarship programs at Washington State (College of Ohio) and we do a couple other (programs with the money)," Lisk said.

One of those other programs is the Young Women in Public Affairs Award (YWPA), according to Lisk.

Lisk said the WSCO scholarships are geared toward non-traditional students, like maybe a woman that has to go back into the workforce because of a divorce or the death of a spouse

She said Zonta MOV provides four $500 scholarships. WSCO chooses the winners of the scholarships.

Lisk said the YWPA is geared toward young high school women. According to Zonta International's website, the YWPA recognizes young women aged 16 to 19 who demonstrate leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship.

"Giving scholarships to women who maybe couldn't afford the books that semester, that's a good feeling," Lisk said.

A lot of people attend the Unique Boutique, according to Lisk.

"Usually on Fridays there's a line of 100 people probably, depending on the weather, and they just kind of shop all evening,"

Lisk said. "On Saturday morning they come again, and we're busy all day until we close."

The unique boutique is made possible by 20 to 30 volunteers a year, who are Zonta MOV members and their family and friends, Lisk said.

Zonta MOV rents the Old Reno School from Marietta Township every year and sets up all week, she said.

"So they're very generous in letting us have it for a week to do this," Lisk said. "It takes every night."

Community members are involved in the Unique Boutique, too.

"They love to donate to our sale," Lisk said. "We get a lot of people who say, 'I'm saving my stuff for you guys' because they know it goes to a good cause," she said. "And the people that come get great deals on clothing for their whole family."

Lisk said the Unique Boutique also helps bring in new members for Zonta MOV.

"We all work together," she said. "We have a lot of fun.

“That's how we've gotten some new members because they come to volunteer and they thought it was a lot of fun and they join".

Zonta MOV meets once a month except in November and December at the Lafayette Hotel. To learn more about the organization visit its Facebook page.

Lisk has been a member of Zonta MOV since 1990; she joined when a friend of hers sponsored her to become a member.

"At the time I was in no kind of service organization and I joined," Lisk said. "I liked everyone in the club and we had a good time doing things, and I've stuck with it."

Lisk believes people should join Zonta MOV because they are giving back to the community by doing things like the Unique Boutique.

"It's a great feeling to help the community," Lisk said.

Unique Boutique volunteer Barb Casada agrees with Lisk.

Casada's sister is a Zonta MOV member and she started helping at the Unique Boutique four years ago when her sister asked her to help, Casada said.

"I love doing this, I like helping people," Casada said.

Lisk said that the Unique Boutique is Zonta MOV's biggest fundraiser.

"That's what we're known for," Lisk said. "People say ‘Zonta, sale.'”

Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com