SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News) – A new consignment shop is bringing new opportunities to North Syracuse residents, paying cash for lightly used kid’s products.
Kid to Kid is a children’s clothing store where parents can bring in lightly used clothing and toys and exchange or donate while looking for new ones. Yari Carrasquillo says that the store is a breath of fresh air and has been well-received by the community since its grand opening a week ago.
“I hear customers saying ‘Oh I love this place, it’s been a long time that we don’t have something like this,'” Carrasquillo said when asked about how the store is being perceived by the community. Kid to Kid helps to provide affordable clothing to impoverished areas and people, but Carrasquillo says she gets more out of her work than just offering local children new clothes at lower prices.
“I feel that I’m doing something productive and also, I’m helping them to look great, feel great and, you know, I like it here,” Carrasquillo said, going on to explain that she wants her customers to walk out of the store feeling good about their style in the hopes that they pay it forward and exchange their hand-me-downs.
The store maintains a good amount of inventory, ranging from clothes to strollers to baby carriages. The store’s owner, Sarin Vartek says that Kid to Kid is simply the middleman in their operation to help others help one another find new clothes without breaking the bank.
“The community can help basically each other. We are the medium to do that, but basically, our patrons help each other,” Vartek said. To him, the regular side of the business is critical, but he is more passionate about the donation programs that the store is involved in.
“This store is about community helping community,” Vartek said. Kid to Kid works with the charity Build On to fund schools and give children things like books and toys that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Vartek says that the presence of the store is welcomed by local charities as well. “The volunteers that work with these organizations, they have been so thrilled, and our patrons can help out with the donations and the families in need,” Vartek said, excited that he has the chance to become a bigger help in their efforts.
Kid to Kid is hoping to become a catalyst of change as it continues to grow in the area and become involved with local charitable causes.
