Small acts of generosity can make a lasting impact.
Small acts of generosity can make a lasting impact.
HI, I'M MICHELE, A SINGLE MOM OF FOUR AMAZING BOYS AND ONE OF THE HEARTS BEHIND MUSTARD THRIFT SHOP.
OUR MISSION WAS BORN OUT OF ONE OF THE HARDEST SEASONS OF MY LIFE. AFTER LEAVING A VERY DIFFICULT MARRIAGE, I HAD NO JOB, NO INCOME, AND NO CLEAR WAY TO PROVIDE FOR MY CHILDREN. WHAT I DID HAVE WAS THE LORD, HIS STRENGTH, AND THE BELIEF THAT OUR STORY WASN'T OVER.
TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND CARE FOR MY BOYS, I BEGAN ORGANIZING YARD SALES WITH DONATED ITEMS FROM FRIENDS. EVERY SMALL STEP, EVERY LONG DAY, AND EVERY ACT OF KINDNESS HELPED US MOVE TOWARD STABILITY. THOSE EARLY DAYS WERE CHALLENGING AND HUMBLING—FILLED WITH UNCERTAINTY, BUT ALSO FILLED WITH SMALL MIRACLES.
THEY TAUGHT ME THAT STRENGTH OFTEN GROWS IN THE STRUGGLE, AND THAT EVEN THE SIMPLEST ACTS OF GENEROSITY CAN CHANGE A LIFE.
WHAT STARTED AS A WAY TO SURVIVE SLOWLY TRANSFORMED INTO SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. THROUGH FAITH, PERSEVERANCE, AND HOPE, THOSE YARD SALES BECAME THE FOUNDATION OF A MISSION: SUPPORTING SINGLE MOMS WHO ARE NAVIGATING DIFFICULT SEASONS OF THEIR OWN. I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW ISOLATING AND OVERWHELMING IT CAN FEEL, AND HOW POWERFUL IT IS TO SIMPLY FEEL SEEN.
IN JUNE OF 2023, TWO FRIENDS MET OVER BREAKFAST AT THE HARBOR IN DANA POINT AND DECIDED TO PARTNER TOGETHER TO LAUNCH NARROW GATE INC., A NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO SERVING SINGLE MOMS.
MUSTARD THRIFT SHOP BECAME THE FIRST VENTURE OF OUR NONPROFIT, NARROW GATE, A HUB OF GOD'S GOODNESS FLOWING THROUGH EVERYDAY GENEROSITY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
AS WE OPEN OUR DOORS EACH DAY, IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE US. MUSTARD EXISTS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, COMMUNITY, AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO SINGLE MOTHERS. EVERY DONATION, PURCHASE, AND ACT OF SUPPORT HELPS EMPOWER MOMS WHO NEED IT MOST. EVERY MOM WHO WALKS THROUGH OUR DOORS SHOULD KNOW SHE MATTERS.
TO EVERY MOM READING THIS OR VISITING OUR STORE: GOD SEES YOU, AND WE SEE YOU. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE HEART BEHIND THIS MISSION AND FOR BEING PART OF IT.
WHETHER YOU SHOP, DONATE, OR SIMPLY SHARE OUR STORY, YOU ARE HELPING BUILD A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN HOPE, SECOND CHANCES, AND THE BELIEF THAT EVERY MOM DESERVES SUPPORT.
HI, I'M ANNA. I'M A WIFE, A MOM OF FOUR, AND ONE OF THE HEARTS BEHIND MUSTARD.
BEFORE MUSTARD, I SPENT MANY YEARS SERVING IN MINISTRY AND HELPING CREATE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE COULD FEEL CONNECTED, ENCOURAGED, AND LOVED. LOOKING BACK, IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I USED TO TELL PEOPLE THAT MY DREAM WOULD BE TO OWN A LITTLE VINTAGE SHOP WHERE I COULD SPEND MY DAYS WITH PEOPLE AND SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS. I JUST NEVER IMAGINED IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.
WHEN MICHELE ASKED IF I WANTED TO OPEN A THRIFT STORE TOGETHER, MY ANSWER WAS SIMPLE: YES.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN HAS FELT LIKE A GIFT. WE'VE WATCHED GOD PROVIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, FROM THE LOCATION AND DONATIONS TO THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS EACH DAY.
TO ME, MUSTARD IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A THRIFT STORE. IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN FEEL SEEN, FIND CONNECTION, DISCOVER A TREASURE, AND HOPEFULLY LEAVE FEELING A LITTLE MORE ENCOURAGED THAN WHEN THEY WALKED IN.
I'M GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF A MISSION THAT SUPPORTS LOCAL SINGLE MAMAS, SERVES OUR COMMUNITY, AND CREATES SPACE FOR GOD'S GOODNESS TO SHOW UP IN EVERYDAY WAYS.