Submitted by bdccadmin on Tue, 01/22/2008 - 15:18.

Second Glance

New and Gently Used Clothing
and Household Items Store

1801 Alexandria Drive
Gardenside Shopping Center
Lexington, Kentucky 40504
859-259-0767
(Operated by the Brenda D. Cowan Coalition for Kentucky, Inc.)

From a distance, it looks like any other clothing store. But if you visit Second Glance in the Gardenside Center, you will find that it's much more. Colorful window displays welcome you. And so do the staff, who stand by ready to help and to tell you more about the store, and the woman who inspired it.

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Second Glance


Style, Clothes, and Help for Survivors of Domestic Violence

From a distance, it looks like any other clothing store.  But if you visit Second Glance in the Gardenside Center, you will find that it's much more.  Colorful window displays welcome you.  And so do the staff, who stand by ready to help and to tell you more about the store, and the woman who inspired it.


A program of the Brenda D. Cowan Coalition, Second Glance is a "gently worn" clothing store/household items store that caters to the needs of survivors of domestic violence, their children, and families devastated by fire, free of charge.  The store and the Cowan Coalition are part of the legacy of Lt. Brenda Cowan, a 12-year veteran of the Lexington Division of Fire and Emergency Services, who was slain on duty while responding to a domestic violence related call in rural Fayette County on Friday, February 13, 2004.

According to the manager, Mary Alice Cosby, the store is often confused for a consignment store.  "We're actually one of several direct service programs for survivors of domestic violence," says Cosby, who says last year the store provided over $15,000 in free merchandise to victims of domestic violence, fires, and other needs from all over the Cowan Coalition's service area (Fayette, Woodford, Scott, Mercer, Garrard, Lincoln, Boyle, Madison, Estill, Powell and Clark Counties).
"If someone has a verifiable need, we are willing to work with them," Cosby says.  "We ask referring organizations to provide a letter stating briefly what the situation is and who we can contact with questions."



The store is also open to the public and offers very reasonable prices, says Karen Trivette, Executive Director of the Cowan Coalition, which oversees the program.  Trivette says sales to the public and donations of clothing and household goods help the store continue to be of service to those in need.

"We would really like to let more people know about our work here," she said.  "We invite you to visit and learn more about us."
All donations to the store are tax-deductable.  "We prefer gently used items, but everything we receive is put to use - whether by us or other organizations like the Salvation Army, Appalachian Reachout, Goodwill, and local churches."

Information Specifics

Second Glance, one of the facilities operated by the Coalition, is a new and gently used clothing and household items store.

  • The yearly operating budget for the store is $50,000.
  • Second Glance will provide free clothing for domestic violence survivors and families devastated by fire.  Referring agencies need to contact the store for referral process and more information.
  • A financial donation of $1,500 (this amount equates to less than 3% of the total cost of the program operating budget) will provide a family of four with clothing and household items for the year.  They are eligible to shop winter, fall, spring, and summer.  Donations will entitle the family to 112 articles of clothing per year.
  • The store is located in the Gardenside Shopping Center, down from Dawahares, on Alexandria drive in Lexington.
  • The store is open to the public and sells retail Monday through Saturday from 10am to 6pm to offset the operating cost.
  • In 2006, the store provided 159 individuals and families with items worth $15,351.
  • To make a donation, please call the store for arrangements.  Donations are tax deductible.
  • Second Glance offers volunteer opportunities.  To become a volunteer, please call the store manager, Mary Cosby.