SAINT PAUL, Minn. — A Saint Paul nonprofit it celebrating one year of giving back to youth in need while making them feel welcomed.
Becca Schroeder has worked with Ramsey County as a social workers for nearly two decades.
"I fell in love with teenagers and have worked with them my whole career," said Schroeder. "I can't think of a population I'd rather work with."
She wanted to do more and started Auntie Bec's Boutique.
"I've been to clothing closets," said Schroeder. "But I think there's this idea that it's kind of like throw away a little bit and I think sometimes teenagers feel that way. So I wanted this to be a place where when you came in, you felt like it was a special place."
Schroeder takes on-trend clothes and places them in her space. She arranges clothes, shoes, jewelry and toiletries as if it were any other store.
"She's gonna greet you with a smile every time," said Chris Harvin, who shopped there Friday.
She sets up appointments on Friday for teens and young adults to shop and bring home garments for free.
"It looks like a clothing store that you'd come shopping and spend your money on," said Octavia Herron, who visited in the same group with Chris. "Usually you just kind of go through piles and pick through whatever you feel like is good. Not here."
Schroeder's life surrounds the work she does with youth, whether it's spending time at the boutique, or with her nieces and nephews: Noah, Kaleb, Jacob, Cynthia and Simone.
"I've been really blessed to have such supportive people in my life," she said. "And I want to do that for kids."
Becca is always looking for donations year-round. But right now, she is in need of winter coats and boots, masculine clothing and money for rent.
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist:
WATCH MORE ON KARE 11+
Download the free KARE 11+ app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and other smart TV platforms to watch more from KARE 11 anytime! The KARE 11+ app includes live streams of all of KARE 11's newscasts. You'll also find on-demand replays of newscasts; the latest from KARE 11 Investigates, Breaking the News and the Land of 10,000 Stories; exclusive programs like Verify and HeartThreads; and Minnesota sports talk from our partners at Locked On Minnesota.
- Add KARE 11+ on Roku here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Roku Channel Store.
- Add KARE 11+ on Fire TV here or by searching for KARE 11 in the Amazon App Store.
- Learn more about the KARE 11+ app for Apple TV in the Apple App Store.
- Learn more about KARE 11+ here.