Lindsey Abrams, a Norfolk, Va. resident visiting her sister from out of town, peruses through a pile of sweaters at the Zonta Club’s Unique Boutique Friday afternoon. Photo by Gwen Sour

RENO – The Zonta Club hosted its annual Spring Unique Boutique this weekend at the Reno Community Center, offering a wide selection of gently used clothing while raising funds for local scholarships and service projects.

The event featured an assortment of clothing along with shoes and accessories all available for individual purchase. Organizers also planned a $10 bag sale, allowing shoppers to fill a bag with items for a flat price.

“Today we’re having a gently used clothing sale of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, and we’ve got a little bit of everything — if you wear it, we’re selling it,” Christine Lisk, treasurer of the Zonta Club and co-chair of the Unique Boutique, said on Friday. “The shoes are one price, and tomorrow there will be a $10 bag sale — all you can get in a garbage bag for 10 bucks.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser will support scholarships at Washington State College of Ohio, along with other community-focused initiatives led by the club.

According to Lisk, the Zonta Club is part of an international service organization focused on improving the lives of women and children both locally and globally.

“We are an international service organization, and it’s our goal to advance the status of women and children on a worldwide level and a local level,” she said.

Locally, the group contributes to programs such as EVE Inc. and its Delegates for Dignity project, which collects essential items including feminine hygiene products, bras and underwear for distribution to people in need, including those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence.

Lisk said the club currently has about 15 members and has recently added three new members as it works to grow its presence in the community.

For her, the organization’s mission is rooted in direct impact.

“It’s helping people, and when you’re doing it locally, you see the results,” Lisk said. “So that’s a good feeling.”

Organizers said the Unique Boutique continues to be a key annual fundraiser, combining affordable shopping opportunities with support for programs that benefit residents across the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com