Downtown Women's Center set to host sold-out spring luncheon

Brianna Maestas, Amarillo Globe-News
·3 min read

The Downtown Women's Center (DWC) is celebrating its 35th anniversary with its spring luncheon, now bigger and better than ever with a new pop-up shop on Tuesday, May 7. The event will be held in the north exhibit hall of the Amarillo Civic Center, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

During the event, DWC will celebrate 35 years of providing housing and services to men, women and children in an effort to overcome homelessness and addiction. At the luncheon, DWC will celebrate more than 75 Recovery Program women and alumnae in attendance, with the more than 1,050 guests in attendance.

DWC will celebrate 35 years of providing services to men, women and children in an effort to overcome homelessness and addiction, at a spring luncheon May 7.
DWC will celebrate 35 years of providing services to men, women and children in an effort to overcome homelessness and addiction, at a spring luncheon May 7.
DWC celebrates their 35th anniversary with their sold-out spring luncheon, including their first ever pop up shop, May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.
DWC celebrates their 35th anniversary with their sold-out spring luncheon, including their first ever pop up shop, May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.

According to Christy Schroeder, Development Coordinator/ Abba House Case Manager for DWC, the organization is also excited to announce that for the first time, the spring luncheon is sold out with presale tickets.

"Celebrating a 35th anniversary is a major accomplishment; it means the DWC has been servicing our community and the people in it for 35 years. There is a lot of history that plays into this event that can be seen through our people, our partnerships and friendships, and we are excited to celebrate that," Schroeder said.

"We are expecting exactly 1,056 guests at this year's luncheon, so we are sold out, which is exciting for us coming out of COVID. ... We were shocked more than anything to realize this is the first time we have been sold out a month or two into ticket sales," Schroeder added.

DWC owns and operates three shelters housing more than 75 women and children, three retail stores on 10th Street, and one apartment complex providing quality affordable housing for 35 moderate- to low-income men and women. Schroeder said that the funds raised from this year's event will benefit the creation of a new facility located next to their current Safe Haven location, which will offer more housing and recovery for the women and children they serve in their recovery program.

"The proceeds raised from the luncheon are important because it will help us remodel and build up the Haven House Too building, which will allow us to provide our services to nine more women. These funds will also help us support our programs throughout the year. It is vitally important that we have donors and the community and friendships built in the past 35 years, to help us provide for those we serve," Schroeder said.

"We are anticipating the total to remodel the Haven House Too at $250,000, so we are hoping with this luncheon to raise at least $75,000 from the luncheon to further our ability to help those in need," Schroeder added.

DWC celebrates their 35th anniversary with their sold out, spring luncheon, including their first ever pop up shop hoping to raise funds for their new facility, May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.
DWC celebrates their 35th anniversary with their sold out, spring luncheon, including their first ever pop up shop hoping to raise funds for their new facility, May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.
DWC will celebrate their 35th anniversary at their spring luncheon May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.
DWC will celebrate their 35th anniversary at their spring luncheon May 7 at the Amarillo Civic Center North Exhibit Hall.

During the event, DWC will also celebrate with their first ever pop-up shop featuring items such as a one-of-a-kind, gold-plated tea set, as well as bags, purses, shoes, jewelry, furniture, appliances and much more.

Shopping will open at 11 a.m., with food served from 11:50 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Following the main event and lunch, the shopping will continue until 1:30 p.m.

DWC will also be selling their first book, “Everyone is Redeemable – Daily Devotional” at the luncheon, including some personal accounts of DWC women. The books will be available for $20. Other items to be for sale at the luncheon benefitting DWC include DWC’s red “We Can Do It” Rosie the Riveter t-shirts for $20; the Tree of Life ornaments handcrafted by DWC program women from broken jewelry donated to DWC’s retail stores; and more.

DWC Pop-Up Shop merchandise will be from their three retail stores. Items sold as a part of the pop up shop will be available tax free exclusively at the luncheon.

For more information about the event or to learn more, visit them online at https://dwcenter.org/ .

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: DWC celebrating 35 years with spring luncheon, pop-up shop