Giving back
At Poplin, giving back is part of our personal style.
Giving back is woven into every aspect of Poplin and has been since the first day. Here are a few of the ways we give back and some ways for you to give back, too.
As the Senior Director of Housing Services at YouthCare, I wanted to take a quick moment to share the impact that Mellicia has had with our clients. Many of our clients are entering our services never having had the opportunity to safely be themselves. Mellicia has given them a voice to center their identity, provided them the ability to learn how to reflect their amazingness outward, and given them the ability to stand proudly in who they are. The impact of this is massive and the number lives she has changed and impacted can not even be put into words. I will always be so grateful for the work and support she has done for our clients, for me, and for the organization.
Poplin clients often donate their pre-loved clothing to nonprofit organizations. That means many years of Poplin Founder, Mellicia Marx, toting second hand pieces from here to there.
Washington Women’s Foundation
Poplin founder, Mellicia Marx, is an active member of the Washington Women’s Foundation, a collective of strong, informed, and purposeful women who share a passion for community transformation. She is a member of the Grantee Engagement Team, working to support grantee agencies with a trust based philanthropy approach. Essentially, she works to ensure that nonprofit organizations and leaders who are experts in their fields have the support and resources they need to make the world better in strategic and long lasting ways. Right now, her energy goes to Yakima Music in Accion (YAMA)
Seattle Women in Business for Good
As a founding member of the Seattle Women in Business for Good giving circle, Poplin founder, Mellicia Marx, empowers local nonprofit organizations with funding and amplification all while connecting with like minded women.
The Ruby Room is a nonprofit that provides formal wear to low income teens, foster youth, and those experiencing homelessness. Poplin Style owner, Mellicia Marx, is among the people advocating in the video.
Styling Sessions for Prom
The Ruby Room offers young people the opportunity to look and feel their best at prom, regardless of their financial situations. Poplin is a longtime supporter including volunteering to style youth, attending the Ruby Room gala, donating services and more. In fact, one year Mellicia was a judge for the Ruby Room Ion Fashion Event.
How you can help: Donate new or used formal or cocktail attire to the Ruby Room. The organization also needs jewelry, shoes, handbags and all the little things that make prom so magical.
Styling Sessions for Homeless Youth ages 16-24
The Styling Team! Chad Everett, Matthew Dill, Mellicia Marx (owner Poplin Style Direction), Courean Napolitano (owner Vixen Day Spa & Boutique), Craig Gibson, Randi Eseltine, Maggie Burns (owner re-souL, not pictured).
From 2014-2020, Poplin partnered with YouthCare and FareStart to conduct monthly styling sessions for homeless and at risk youth who are in an 8 week training program to become baristas. Whether you are a CEO or a young person on the street, if you don't feel good about how you look, your confidence suffers. These young people, a disproportionate number of whom are LGBTQIA+ or people of color, enjoy an afternoon exploring their personal styles, learning what's appropriate for job interviews and shopping from clothes donated by the community. The sessions are fun and sometimes silly. They also include questions like, "do you have somewhere to store clothes," and often include help with transitioning for trans individuals or learning to feel pretty without feeling objectified.
How you can help: Donate clothing (for men or women), accessories (belts, handbags, jewelry, etc.), shoes and/or new socks, bras and underwear to YouthCare. These will be used in styling sessions and as resources for other youth in YouthCare's various programs. Consider hosting a Clothing Swap for YouthCare.
Special thanks to Poplin clients who donate clothing to YouthCare and these local businesses who make the styling sessions possible through donations of time or items: re-souL, Vixen Collection, Baby&Co and TomboyX. TomboyX and Universal Standard also provided internships for young people through YouthCare.
Community Events and other Volunteerism
Every year since Poplin opened it’s virtual doors, we’ve been hosting a table or two at the Annual YouthCare Luncheon. And, that’s just the beginning. From luncheons to fundraisers, donations and more, Poplin is committed to making the world a better place. Mellicia also served on the YouthCare Board through 2020.
How you can help: Join us at one of the Poplin tables at the YouthCare luncheon in March and learn more about the organization’s incredible work.
Donations
Poplin gives back financially, too. Below are a few of the organizations that have received monetary donations or gift certificates.
Woodland Park Zoo, Broadview Thompson School, Early Learning and Development Center, The Ruby Room, YouthCare, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, The Center for Reproductive Rights, Earth Justice, Stolen Youth, NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, The Inc. Co-working space for parents.
How you can help: Donate to your favorite organizations to empower them to do great work in the community.