Altar’d State mission is clothes, Mondays
From Day 1 the mission wasn’t just to sell flowy, floral tops. It was to help. So when Altar’d State started in 2009, so did “Mission Mondays.”
The flagship store opened right here in Turkey Creek. Seventy-five other stores have sprung up since then, and they’re all onboard when it comes to giving to good causes.
Mission Mondays are like synchronized swimmers. As a store in Knoxville supports animals one month, so do all the other stores across the country. When the Turkey Creek store donates 10 percent of a Monday’s net proceeds to help kids in need, so does the West Town Altar’d State and all the others.
Lindsey Blalock is the guest engagement manager at the Turkey Creek store. In January, she said, the cause was self-esteem. The Farragut store supported Girl Talk Inc. in Oak Ridge, while other stores supported charities in their areas.
“In 2016, purchases allowed us to donate over $1.6 million to charities locally and worldwide,” she said.
This spring the stores are helping animals. The Turkey Creek store chose Small Breed Rescue as their charity, and each Monday night through April 17, they’ll receive the 10 percent.
Next will be cancer, and through June 12, all 70-plus stores will contribute to a cancer cause of their choosing. The Farragut store has chosen Compassion That Compels, an organization that puts together small care baskets for patients going through chemotherapy. In June and July, the store will support Smoky Mountain Service Dogs for Disabled Veterans, a group that raises service dogs from puppies to adults.
From August through Oct. 9, the focus will be on children, and from Oct. 16 through Dec. 18, it will be on hunger and homelessness. The various Altar’d States will be supporting hunger relief agencies, rescue ministries and groups such Habitat for Humanity.
To help, call 865-288-7700.
Helping doesn’t end on Monday at the Turkey Creek store, however. Blalock has found other ways for the staff to get involved with the community.
“At least once a month I try to schedule something for the girls to go do together,” she said. “In February, we visited Horse Haven. They’re a rehab center for equine animals – donkeys, horses, mules, mini horses and ponies. We actually cleaned out part of a horse barn and brushed horses. In the tack room they put on gloves and cleaned the room and sorted tack pieces. Our march service is YMCA Community Garden Day. We’re going to work in the garden.”
If you know of a worthy charity, or If your nonprofit would like to participate in one of these categories, contact Altar’d State’s home office at
