5 # Apparel doesn’t work like most retail shops where all of the income goes into a couple people’s pockets. So then where does the money from the purchases go?
“It’s simple. Each item purchased benefits someone, somewhere. Every brand we carry has a charitable cause.”
With two locations — one downtown and one at Farmers Park — 5 # Apparel is staffed with knowledgeable and kind-hearted employees including Nikki Purgason, 21.
“I love it here for the simple fact that everyone’s hearts are in it,” said Purgason as she began to explain some of the charitable causes that her employer supports. Hanging on the wall near the register, Purgason indicated a chalk board with the following numbers of what purchases in the store have donated:
7,545 pounds of food
5 # was founded on the idea that with the purchase of every logo T-shirt, five pounds of vitamin-packed peanut butter would be donated to Nyaya Health. That peanut butter is given to malnourished children in Nepal where approximately 10 percent of children younger than 5 suffer from some form of malnutrition.
5,293 books to Africa
Looking for that perfect, original illustration book cover T-shirt? Look no further than 5 #’s selection of Out of Print tees and accessories. This organization works with Books for Africa, and for each Out of Print product sold, one book is donated to a community in need.
3,290 pairs of shoes
These shoes were made for helping others, and some of the most popular products 5 # carries are a variety of TOMS shoes. With its slogan “One for One,” for every TOMS item purchased, it will help a person in need. However, it is not only the classic shoes that 5 # carries; with a line of sunglasses from TOMS, the store can now add “people helped to see” to its brag board.
21,405 meals
Sometimes, the perfect bag can say it all, and with FEED bags it says that you are willing to help keep another man, woman, and/or child from going hungry. At any given time, 5 # stocks a few of these different bags that can donate a few different amounts of meals including a larger tote sporting the number one, which indicates that the purchase will feed a child for one year.
110 trees planted
With WEWOOD time pieces offered at the store, one tree is donated for the purchase of every watch.
Over $16,000 locally
For every item not directly affiliated with an organization, 5 # Apparel will donate a percentage of each sale to local charities such as the Lost & Found grief center.
This year, the store branched into another logo of its own known as Missouri Is Awesome with a line of apparel dedicated to the Show-Me State. “I love the Missouri Is Awesome campaign,” said Purgason. “They are funny, but they also help people. I feel like you should help locally before you can help globally — help those next to you before you can help those miles away.”
These charities are only some of the ones connected to 5# Apparel. Purgason’s favorite nonprofit that the store supports is known as Krochet Kids.
“I think it’s cool they traveled not because they wanted to see the world, but because they wanted to make a difference, ” said Purgason of the founders of the organization.
Some of the other charities that 5 # helps are Sseko Designs, United By Blue, and a variety of fair trade jewelry including the famous Giving Keys worn by celebrities like Ryan Gosling and Demi Lovato.
