Colorado Springs store aims to help foster teens, run by foster teens

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A second-hand store in downtown Colorado Springs is targeted specifically for teens in foster care.

Every Saturday, foster teens in El Paso and Teller county can go to The Hanger and pick out five items free of charge. Last year there were 352 teens who shopped at The Hanger.

The store is run through volunteers with CASA of the Pikes Peak Region and foster teens.

The Hanger Founder Jane Hegstrom, says the store provides the teens with real-world work experience.

"One of the best things about The Hanger is the teenagers can fill out a job application, go through a little interview process and then they can come and work in The Hanger," Hegstrom said.

Naomi Williams, who is now a college student, worked and shopped at The Hanger when she was in foster care.

"It was actually really fun to get to work with people my age and to help kids my age and to actually see them change, or their face change with they find something they like," Williams said.

The second-hand store relies solely on donations.

"We especially need guys items. We have just as many guys shop as the girls. Especially boy's coats, boy's toiletries, anything any regular teenager would like is what we would like to have," Hegstrom said.

You can donate by dropping off clothing items for teens aged 12 to 21. You can also donate toiletry items, Hegstrom says the most popular item is Dollar Store men's cologne.

This holiday season The Hanger is also trying to give every teen a $25 gift card to Walmart, Target or Amazon.

You can bring your donations to the CASA office at 418 South Weber St. Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or on Saturday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. A tax receipt is available.

For more information on The Hanger click here.