09/08/2026
Tawni here, one of the directors of House of Eli and manager of our upscale resale and consignment store...
Starting businesses as a way to teach our boys a variety of skills was part of the God-given vision for this ministry. There is no better way to strengthen a person than to teach them something new.
You wouldn't think a shop that caters mostly to women would be a natural choice as a learning lab for our young men, but it has been great.
It helps them see the world differently. It helps them understand that people are generally kind and that their community supports them. They have learned the value of a polite greeting and why you should always wrap a mirror twice so it makes it safely to someone's car. They have learned how to work together moving furniture for delivery. They know how to help me with the computers when things go wrong because they speak "tech" much better than I do.
They have funny ways of doing things. One of the boys marked a crocheted sweater as a "holy top." They will never understand gauchos, culottes, or Capri pants (not sure I do either). And they have made some grand mistakes. One young man sold a gorgeous Persian rug that was supposed to be $700 for $70! After we all picked our jaws up off the floor, we forgave him, paid the consignor their fair portion, and carried on. The consignor never knew.
There is a security our boys gain from making a big mistake and learning that people are not done with you. That's something many of our guys have never experienced. Even the failures have value.
Trusting them to run a cash register, taking them treasure hunting for finds for the store, and showing them how our business is growing helps them feel empowered. It expands their world and their ability to feel comfortable in it. When a customer remembers their name from the last time they came in, now that's a great day, and Still Charming is doing its job.
Today, I would ask you to help us keep creating more of those great days. House of Eli is participating in North Texas Giving Day, and every gift made during this campaign will go twice as far thanks to a generous matching donor. https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/houseofeli
Your support helps provide opportunities for our young men to learn, grow, make mistakes, try again, and discover that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. If you've ever wondered whether a donation can truly change a life, I get to watch it happen every day. Thank you for believing in our boys and for helping us continue this work.
