Allen teacher organizes 'Adopt a Shop' drive to support APO employees

Allen - After nearly a month after the closure due to the tragic mass shooting incident, Allen Premium Outlets will reopen its doors to the public this coming Wednesday, Dallas Metro News reported. The reopening comes nearly a month following the horrifying mass shooting that took place on May 6, 2023.

In the spirit of resilience and unity, local Allen High School teacher and Allen resident, Katelyn Reed, has begun a drive to support the mall's workforce. Reed, along with her friends, is assembling thoughtful gift baskets intended for the outlet's employees.

She has established an online platform where people can commit to 'adopting' a store from Allen Premium Outlets, thereby taking responsibility to compile and hand over a gift basket.

With the backing of the community, Reed is optimistic that every store will have its share of this small gesture of kindness, contingent upon each store's decision to resume operations.

“It’s better to do something, than nothing. When you do nothing, I think it can leave the assumption that you don’t care. And even if we say the wrong thing, at least we’ve said something,” Reed said to WFAA. “It’s about [the employees] and letting them know they are cared for and loved and seen.”

The curated baskets Reed is assembling include a variety of comforting items such as snacks, candies, chocolates, and beverages. However, the centerpiece of each basket is a handwritten note.

Through these tokens of solidarity, Reed aspires to bring a measure of comfort to those who bore witness to the harrowing event on May 6.

“It’s not going to fix anything, but hopefully it’ll put a smile on their faces,” she added.

Reed said many of her students have part-time jobs at the outlet mall. The day of the massacre, she felt panicked, not knowing if they were safe.

When she found out they were okay, she was grateful, but she couldn’t stop thinking about those who died and their loved ones. “I know that there are teachers who didn’t get to see their kids when it was over,” she said.

The inspiration to launch this gift basket initiative came from Reed's deep sense of empathy and desire to spread warmth to the mall employees recovering from the dreadful incident.

"I want them to know that we are thinking of them and we are aware that they are going trough something really hard, and that we care about them," she said.

It should be noted that not all stores at the Allen Premium Outlets may resume operations on Wednesday.