“We just want to normalize a culture of being aware that the life you’re saving is your own.”
That’s how Neo Crump, assistant manager at Out of the Closet thrift store, described the store’s mission of raising awareness for HIV, while being an important place for members of the South Side community to express themselves.
Affiliated with the AIDS Health Foundation, the new Hyde Park branch of the Out of the Closet thrift store at 1709 E. 53rd St. serves its community through uplifting and spreading awareness about HIV for South Side residents, as well as reducing the stigma around HIV one test at a time.
According to Mr. Crump, to change the thinking around HIV, Out of the Closet must meet people in their own comfort zones and create trust.
“We want to meet people directly where they are,” he said, “so, we’re going to have events coming up where we’re going to go straight to where the at-risk community is, set up a tent and let them know, ‘Hey, when you come here, get an outfit, you can get tested.’ Knock everything out so that we can remove barriers and stigmas.”
Aside from the charity aspect, the thrift store itself, which Mr. Crump referred to as a “fashion-to-pharmacy pipeline,” has built a community through customers being able to express themselves.
“I like seeing the young high school and college children find a place where they can come in and be accepted. And I didn’t realize how important it was until now when someone could come in just for 30, 45 minutes and for lack of a better term, just be gay,” Mr. Crump said. “You could just see the way they decompress when they walk through the door.”
Long racks of clothing in all shapes and sizes line the walls. Short black dresses, buttoned dress shirts and designer bags for 30% the cost dangle on hangers, catching the eyes of smiling customers finding clothes that make them feel most like themselves.
Mr. Crump recalled young people coming to the store looking for clothes for anything from job interviews to dances. He said that he’s really been able to form a connection with the customers within his short time here.
“It’s only been open two, three weeks, but as I walk down 53rd, walk up and down Lake Park and a lot of our customers, they wave, and say ‘Hey Neo, you see my outfit that I got from here? And you can see the spark in their eyes. You can see the smile.”
The store uses their community to spread awareness. The store is planning on going to music festivals such as Lollapalooza and Beyond Wonderland to advertise the importance of getting tested and encourage people to do so.
The store, which is in the process of finishing its HIV clinic and testing center, plans to offer free HIV and STI tests and already sends 96 cents per dollar of every purchase to the AIDS Health Foundation to fund HIV care. The store also raises awareness by going to members of the South Side community and directly talking to them about HIV.
“We go to the artists and be with them right at the nightlife, give them a drink, and let them know ‘Hey, come out and get checked.’ You’re meeting them right then and there,” Mr. Crump said. “Every person you check, every person you get tested, every time you normalize it and make it regular, every person who walks in with bags of condoms, we’re just making a positive impact slowly, but surely.”