Harmony House opens upscale boutique for shelter residents

Domestic violence shelter Harmony House opened an upscale boutique for its residents July 7.

The boutique is named Ingle's Treasures in recognition of former Harmony House Executive Director Patty Ingle, who held the job permanently for six months before taking a director of development position at Missouri State University in May. Before being named interim director in September, Ingle worked at Harmony House as development director for nearly a year, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

"Her heart is really here at Harmony House," new Executive Director Lisa Farmer said of Ingle. "The staff felt it would be a nice tribute to her."

An open house of the boutique is scheduled 3:30-5:30 p.m. today.

Located inside Harmony House's administrative building, 519 E. Cherry St., the boutique offers women at the shelter the ability to purchase items including new and used clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry, accessories, and bath and body products. Purchases are made based on points shelter residents earn from completion of weekly goals, including meeting with case managers regularly and volunteering to do chores around the house, Farmer said.

"The boutique items, we want them to be different, we want them to be special and nicer than what we typically give out for emergency clothing," she said, noting all items available are donated.

Harmony House will continue to seek donations of new and gently used items for the store, available only to shelter residents.

In 2013, Harmony House sheltered 560 women and children, but was forced to turn away another 1,600 due to a lack of space. Harmony House occupies three buildings along Cherry Street: an administrative building, case management building and the shelter. The nonprofit provides shelter and support services for victims of domestic abuse, including clothing and food, classes and case management services, child care, employment assistance and transportation, according to a news release.[[In-content Ad]]