Local nonprofit sponsors 2nd annual Spring Tea event

My Sister’s Closet is tailoring to the needs of many local women entering the working world by providing gently used, professional-style clothing to low-income women in the Monroe and Owen county area.

The nonprofit organization will have its second annual Spring Tea event Sunday to raise funds for its Bloomington store. The event includes a tea, luncheon, guest speaker, fashion show and silent auction from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Bloomington Country Club.

One of the highlights of the Spring Tea event is the keynote speaker, Michael Maurer, a philanthropist and author of “19 Stars of Indiana: Exceptional Hoosier Women.”

The law school was named in his honor this year after he made a donation.

“We were enamored with the book that he wrote,” said Sandy Keller, board president and executive director of My Sister’s Closet. “My Sister’s Closet is all about these kinds of amazing women.”

A majority of the 19 women from the book are expected to attend.

Following Maurer will be the “Classic Looks from My Sister’s Closet” fashion show and the silent auction sponsored by more than 30 local businesses. The silent auction will offer about 45 items, including restaurant gift certificates, a Vera Bradley purse, one-month gym memberships and a blue fox-fur coat.

“We worked really hard to get a whole range of items so everyone can bid and participate,” said Jennifer Stuart, My Sister’s Closet IU volunteer coordinator.

Everyone who attends will go home with at least one gift. There will be gift bags filled with gift certificates for each guest as well as ceramic teabag holders and more. There will also be a number of door prizes.

All proceeds from the auction and ticket sales go toward the management and development of the organization. One of the major goals of My Sister’s Closet is to open another store location, those involved said.

Stuart said the hope for the Spring Tea event is to draw more attention to My Sister’s Closet. She added that the board would also like to attract more volunteers to the organization.

“We really want to raise awareness of our organization in the community,” she said.

Sophomore Meghan Janotka has been volunteering with My Sister’s Closet for a year.

“I think it’s a wonderful cause,” she said. “I’ve seen women directly benefitted by the clothes there.”