Dempster Street is home to many notable features, including historic homes, parks, beaches, and distinctive small businesses. One of these homey shops is Skylight Vintage, a vintage shop that doubles as a nonprofit, raising money for mental health counseling.
The store started small in early 2020, reselling items at garage sales. Most of the pieces were extra products acquired from Secret Treasures, another antique store in the area. Skylight then moved to a church in Skokie, followed by a pop-up store on Sherman. As business continued to rise, the Skylight Foundation realized that opening stores would be the most effective way to raise funds.
Currently, the items sold primarily come from estate sales, companies or families downsizing, or donations by Evanston residents. ”New stuff comes in every single day,” noted Angelica Klow, executive director of Skylight.
David Klow, who works for the Skylight Counseling Center, founded the Skylight Foundation, which raises funds to pay qualified therapists so that those with limited resources can afford counseling. The majority of the money comes from donations and the store, with net proceeds flowing into the Foundation.
“There is a need for people to have access to no or low-cost counseling,” stated Angelica Klow. “The Evanston community values mental health a lot…we’re really focused on raising the funding for Mental Health Counseling.”
According to Skylight Vintage employees, community is a focal point of the store. “Many of the donations come from the community and folks shopping in the store, who we get to interact and bond with,” said Zoe Miller, a Skylight staff member. “Plus, the people benefiting are in the community, so it’s sort of a cycle.”
Evanston is known for its wide web of charitable and selfless small businesses, and Skylight hopes to play a role in this cycle of giving back to the community.
“Evanston has really great non-profits,” reflected Klow, “The goal is to be in Evanston, and to be able to add to the ecosystem of non-profits.”
A way Skylight Vintage fosters connection is by maintaining in-house resources for those in need. The store has recently started keeping a box of warm clothing, such as gloves and sweatpants, along with hand warmers to help with the harsh winter weather. They soon plan to add non-perishable food items to the mix. This way, anyone struggling to make ends meet has access to necessities. This helps staff engage in a productive interaction with the individual and offer something they may need or want.
Additionally, Skylight often partners with other humanitarian programs, such as Connections for the Homeless, an organization that works to bring housing stability and support to those in need.
“I hadn’t anticipated the work we’d do with Connections for the Homeless,” stated Klow.
Skylight occasionally provides or donates kitchenware, mattresses, linens, and other furnishings to Connections for the Homeless and their clients who need help getting situated.
“Sometimes we get things we can’t or don’t really need to sell,” explained Klow. “We get mattresses in pristine condition all the time. People all around us are in need, so we often give those to Connections for the Homeless, as they cannot be resold.”
Skylight also offers volunteer opportunities for students, allowing deeper connections with a wide variety of people. It’s possible to sign up through the community service office at ETHS.
“You get to hang out in a fun vintage shop, help sort, name, and price vintage clothing, antiques, house decor, and furniture,” said Klow. “It’s cozy, there’s something here for everyone.”
