St. Pete’s 600 Block Gives Back

In light of the holiday season, the 600 Block came together in support of Metropolitan Ministries. The goal: Gather as many unwrapped new toys as possible for children who may not receive a gift otherwise.

Torrie Jasuwan, owner of Bentley’s Boutique, said the idea emerged after she heard that Metropolitan Ministries was in need of donations for the holiday season.

“I knew that they were in need and so I decided to organize this event,” Jasuwan said.

The charity event prompted Boutiques like Gold & Maiden and the Trunk Stylists to offer discounts galore. Each store had live models and free cocktails for shoppers.

Shop owners were excited. “Everyone’s been really thrilled,” said Aneesa Shakur, co-owner of the Trunk Stylists. “People just genuinely want to help out."

As of Tuesday morning, 106 people had RSVP’ed “yes” to the event. If each person brought in one $10 toy, the organization would be able to disperse more than $1,000 in gifts. The incentives were not just discounts and free drinks. Each participating store handed a free gift card out for every unwrapped toy donated. The gift cards ranged from $5 to $50.

A slew of foot traffic made its way from store to store, toys in hand. The gifts piled high, and shop owners agreed that the night was successful.

“It was a huge turnout,” Jasuwan explained. “We got a lot more toys than I expected.”