With blue stars projected onto the floor like pixie dust, huggable stuffed animals smiling back from behind the glass window, and a tasteful arrangement of trendy fashions on the racks and on display, the Friends Shop—located on the second floor of Children’s Hospital—is undoubtedly filled with love. But it’s not just the products that make this shop feel more like an oasis than a hospital gift shop, it’s the fact that all of the proceeds go right back into Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
Huy Nguyen
Created by the volunteer organization Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt when the hospital first opened its doors more than 15 years ago, the Friends Shop serves as a major component in the organization’s goal of supporting the hospital’s funding.
“It’s a way you can feel good with your shopping; you’re not just going out shopping to have something pretty in your closet. You can buy that new purse and carry it, and wear that new dress proudly because you’re supporting Children’s Hospital,” says Cindy Comperry, director of Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “You’re helping patients, you’re helping families, you’re helping give comfort to people going through stress.”
Each year, the focus of fund distribution changes based on what areas have the strongest needs. Through their partnership with the Friends Shop, the Friends Organization just completed a $1 million commitment to support pediatric cancer and the hospital’s complex care program. But they’re wasting no time basking in the glory of the accomplishment, as they’re already embarking on their next $1 million commitment to support the hospital’s palliative care program, along with a research grant for juvenile diabetes.
The Friends Shop works hard to achieve these goals by selling products that appeal to patients, families, volunteers, employees, and the community as a whole. However, they didn’t start off with the diverse lineup of trendy clothing and accessories they sell today. When the store first opened alongside the hospital, there was no intention of being anything other than a traditional gift shop.
Debbie Binkley, store manager and buyer, has been with the shop since day one. She knew the store needed a revamping from its airport gift shop aesthetic simply by listening to what families wanted.
Huy Nguyen
“More and more people were coming in saying, ‘Where’s the mall?’ Families live here for months on end; they can’t leave to go to the mall. If a child has a special occasion, it’s going to be [in the hospital]. That’s huge for the family; that mother wants a nice dress to wear so she feels special too,” said Binkley. “Creating an environment that they can be successful in as they’re trying to heal a sick child, we’re a part of that. Because they asked, we grew into this, and we’re constantly tweaking and listening.”
The Friends Shop sells a variety of items including clothing, purses, jewelry, stuffed animals, children’s toys, and so much more. But sometimes the best thing they offer is friendship (as the name suggests), and a temporary distraction from the stress weighing on the loved ones of sick children.
Family members will pop into the shop to escape the stress of their personal lives, even if only for a few minutes—to come try on a new sweater, or to listen to an upbeat song playing over the speakers. Sometimes they come in for a hug, or to update the staff-turned-friends on their child’s treatment.
“They just have another friend; the store is their friend,” says Binkley. “We’re here every day, so we never lose sight of our goal of making these families happy and contributing to their healing process.”
With the expansion of the hospital bringing in more and more patients and their families, the Friends Shop is determined to raise more money to meet the increasing need for it. As they continue to raise the bar, they cannot stress enough how much every sale and every person who comes through matters. Big or small, every purchase plays a role in contributing to large goals that make an even larger difference.
“It’s not just a store for shopping—there’s so much more behind it,” says Comperry. “There’s the prettiness of it—the beauty of the pretty dresses, the sparkly jewelry, and the soft stuffed animals—but at the end of the day, it’s the love and care that goes beyond it, and the fact that all of the money raised is going right back into the hospital is incredible.”