The Open Door  
Julie LaFontaine, President and CEO  
28 Emerson Ave.,  
Gloucester, MA 01930  

Rockport Public Library 
Cindy Grove, Director 
17 School St., 
Rockport, MA 01966  

Media Contact: Kelsey Richards 
Email: kelsey.richards@foodpantry.org 
Phone: 978-283-6776 x 226
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Friday August 30, 2024 

The Open Door Fashion Show  

Kicks off Hunger Action Month 

The Open Door Communications Associate Kayla Mayo at The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show at The Cut on Sunday.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)

GLOUCESTER— More than 320 thrift fashionistas and hunger-relief supporters attended the sold out The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show presented by its thrift store, Second Glance, on Sunday at The Cut. 

The event aligned with New York Fashion Week and Hunger Action Month™, an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.   

“Thrifties across Cape Ann and beyond joined us tonight to celebrate the joy of thrifted fashion and support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “The magic of The Open Door’s thrift store, Second Glance, is just that. You can donate and shop for high-quality, one-of-a-kind fashion and so much more, with the knowledge your dollars help put food on the table for our neighbors.” 

Many familiar faces made an appearance as models on stage, including Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga and his wife Kellie Verga, The Open Door Director of Finance and HR Marcia Hubbard, The Open Door Director of Advocacy and Development Sarah Grow, Director of Elder Services at the Rose Baker Senior Center Elise Sinagra, Muffy White of Muffy White Organizing & Styling, Vice President of Brand Strategy at Brandigo Global Chris Langathianos, and numerous staff and volunteers of The Open Door. 

The fashion show featured three looks: black and white outfits, thrifted chic, and a Hunger Awareness walk featuring orange looks. Orange is the color used to raise hunger awareness. The show was curated by Jackie Colussi, a longtime member of the team at Second Glance, as well as Director of Thrift Operations Susan Zwart with help from Asia Kepka, a volunteer. 

“The challenge of putting together thrifted looks was so much fun,” said Colussi. “The best part of this experience for me was seeing people feel happy and confident. A great necklace or a wonderful scarf is not going to change your life, but it might just make you feel good and that’s contagious.” 

The evening was also led by emcee Karen Nascembeni, general manager at the North Shore Music Theatre. 

At intermission, Mayor Verga issued a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ in Gloucester.  

Sponsors of the event gave $5,000 towards hunger-relief, and included a Friend of The Open Door, Muffy White Organizing & Styling, Business Matters in the Visual Arts LLC, Ecosmith Recyclers Inc., and Reverie 73.  

About The Open Door  

The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security. 

Founded in 1978, The Open Door is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and community food resource center for low-income residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Boxford, Rowley, Topsfield, and Wenham. In 2023, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 9,836 people from 4,952 households through the distribution of 1.98 million pounds of food. 

For more information, visit FOODPANTRY.org. 

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Second Glance Head Cashier and Administrative Assistant Lisa Novello dons an orange dyed wedding dress for the fashion show finale. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Mayor Greg Verga, right, and wife Kellie Verga at The Open Door Thrift the Runway finale on Sunday at The Cut.
Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
SG Home Assistant Manager Jim Sanford at The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Muffy White of Muffy White Organizing & Styling at The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
From left: SNAP Assistant and ESL Advocate Carolina Sosa, Second Glance Associate Mary Jane Sawyer, and SG Home Assistant Manager Jim Sanford. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
From left: The Open Door Call Center Coordinator Rick Doucette, Kitchen Production Assistant Kenn Taber, and Communications Associate Kayla Mayo.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Muffy White, of Muffy White Organizing & Styling, at Sunday’s fashion show.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Chris Langathianos, Global Vice President of Brand Strategy at Brandigo Global, at the Thrift the Runway Fashion Show finale.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Model Natalia Douglass, who owns a pop-up store Detali in Gloucester, pretends to take a photo of the audience at Sunday’s Thrift the Runway Fashion Show.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Jiya Panchal, a volunteer, models at The Open Door Thrift the Runway Fashion Show.
(Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
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