Wednesday

Sip, Shop & Swap – Fun had by all!

This season’s Spring Frock Swap was a bit of departure from our previous swaps because this one was held in a beautiful winery. The Stoutridge Vineyard is 70 miles north of Manhattan and is a premium estate winery offering wonderful unprocessed wines. A must visit for anyone interested in wines or just looking to take a fun day trip.

The wine tastings paired with “guilt-free” shopping turned out to be a wonderful combination! One woman left with 4 pair of never worn shoes and 7 “new” clothing items to add her wardrobe. She left saying “Wow, I can really tell my husband that I didn’t spend any money shopping today!”

The Frock Swap continues to be a community driven event; everything from soliciting volunteers from Marist College as well as Ulster BOCES, purchasing food items through the local grocery stores to (and most importantly) donating the remaining items to the wonderful non-profit organization, The Grace Smith House. In addition to donating the clothes, we conduct a post-swap image workshop to the courageous women seeking shelter at the Grace Smith House.

Swapping brings communities closer together by reminding us all that even though we might be done with something we have, someone else may really treasure it. The idea of reaching out to our neighbors to pool everyone’s resources and make everyone’s lives easier can be forgotten in an economic climate where everyone is so focused on making sure they’re able to cover their bills and keep their families happy. Frock Swaps are way to help remind us of the importance of communicating with our neighbors in a fun, spirited and productive way.

Check out our Frock Swap photos! Shout out to our wonderful volunteers from Marist College and Ulster Bolces! What a great crew!







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