When visitors of this boutique stop in, they’re not just looking around for new clothes. They’re looking for a new start.
This is Angels of Mercy, an organization dedicated to helping women in need in Rochester and around the world.
”All you do, you walk through the door and they embrace you and they just make you feel so good about yourself make you feel great,” said Deborah LaBello.
She hasn’t always felt great. She’s a survivor of domestic abuse.
For LaBello and other clients, Angels of Mercy is a lifesaver.
”When you walk in the door, it’s such an anointed place, because there’s God in this place,” she said. “It’s just filled with the love of the Lord.”
Angels of Mercy aims to stop human trafficking and end domestic violence. Women are offered free clothing, comfort, and companionship.
“We strive to give them back dignity, hope, restoration; they can say their testimonies in a safe place, in a safe environment,” said Mary Jo Gugino Colligan, founder and president of Angels of Mercy.
As October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Colligan is also working to shine a light on ways to support victims of domestic abuse and the ways they can get help.
Angels of Mercy hosts the Purple Stroll, taking its message of awareness to the streets.
“We want to embrace each other so that we have a sense of community,” she said. “Nobody should have to go through life alone, so we foster a sense of community here with our programs and everything that we do.”