DUNEDIN, Fla. — A 15-year-old Pinellas County teen is giving back to the same organization that helped her mother when she needed it the most. Her productive summer off is inspiring a lot of people at a Dunedin thift shop.
When she’s in here, Raven Spindler has a place for everything. I ask her if her room at home is this organized.
"No way," Raven said laughing.
Raven is volunteering at the Kimberly Home’s Thrift Shoppe.
Seventy percent of all the shop's profits go right back to helping young mothers in crisis, like Raven's mother, who gave birth at the age of 15.
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"It feels nice to come back in full circle to somewhere that has helped me in my life, and it's nice to finally give back," Raven said.
She is not only the shop’s youngest volunteer, she’s is also the first to be at the Kimberly Home as a baby and return to volunteer there.
Behind this good employee is an even better leader.
"I was in corporate retail for 34 years," said Eileen Maxwell-Degaetanl. "I had lost my mom and sister within 6 months. My mother loved babies and my sister loved their stores."
Stores like The Kimberly Home Thrift shops and Eileen jumped at an opportunity to manage one, using her retail experience to improve sales all five years she’s been in charge.
"Right now I'm in my happy place. And I think they're looking over us and that's why we do well here," said Maxwell-Degaetanl.
Raven’s doing well at the thrift shop and at home with her mom.
"It brings me back to my mother and stuff like that," said Maxwell-Degaetanl. "One day she'll see that her mom is her best friend, too."
The Kimberly Home Thrift Shoppe has two locations in Clearwater and Dunedin.
Have something to donate? They’ll pick it up. Click here for more information.
