Rachel Yeates, Rachel’s Boutique Women and Children’s Resale founder[/caption]

Rachel Yeates

Rachel’s Boutique Women and Children’s Resale founder In the 1990s, Rachel Yeates had a dream to supply clothing and food for an entire village in another country. In January, Yeates opened Rachel’s Boutique Women and Children’s Resale at 11510 FM 1488, Magnolia, to continue her mission of giving back to women and children locally and internationally. In 2002, Yeates started selling children’s clothing on consignment and quickly grew from serving four families to 450 families. In 2007, Yeates founded nonprofit organization Great Comeback Kids to expand her efforts. Entirely volunteer-run, Rachel’s Boutique accepts donations of gently used women and children’s clothing, accessories, baby items, furniture and home decor items to be sold at discounted department store prices. Any funds raised are given back to local families in need or are donated to children in other countries. 281-815-3100, www.greatcomebackkids.org

What volunteer opportunities are available?

We offer volunteer hours for students in organizations, such as [National Honor] Society and National Charity League. We have backroom sorting positions, and we also have a front desk position. One of the main priorities of the front desk area is loving everyone who walks in. It’s not about how much money to make from that person—it’s really about helping that person. Behind the scenes, we need people to connect with the local churches. Anyone with marketing experience can help people know we’re here. We can also pick up furniture, and there’s a back bay area where people can drop off donations. There’s not really a donation we don’t take. Our goal is nothing wasted, so everything that comes in—we’re seeing where is it given to make the biggest difference.

What is something you would like people to know about Rachel’s Boutique?

I always thought the Great Comeback Kids would only be kids’ clothes. I started to reset when I was praying. I felt God telling me I want my girls to dress like the princesses they are. That’s where he women’s boutique came from. It was the concept that as wives and moms we are working so hard—we buy for our kids, and we care for everyone else—but maybe we don’t get that pretty shirt or maybe we stop even wearing those pretty clothes. That’s the heartbeat behind the boutique because the clothes are all Chico’s, Ann Taylor and name brands that are very economically priced.

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Genny Murphy, Tiny Paws Rescue founder[/caption]

Genny Murphy

Tiny Paws Rescue founder After years of volunteering and fostering shelter dogs, Genny Murphy started nonprofit organization Tiny Paws Rescue in 2007 as a way to rescue smaller mixed-breed dogs from local shelters. The organization works with a network of volunteers to rescue dogs from shelters in Harris and Montgomery counties and provide temporary homes until families in the area can adopt the animals. In fall 2014, Tiny Paws Rescue opened a retail shop at 308 E. Main St., Tomball, to raise additional money for the nonprofit organization. A lifelong animal lover, Murphy said she began fostering small dogs and realized she wanted to open her own shelter. Murphy said the nonprofit is largely funded through adoption fees. However, the shop also fundraises through the sale of pet goods and home decor. www.tinypawsrescue.com

What volunteer opportunities are available?

We’re always in need of volunteers to help with the resale shop, and we do have events where we need people to help. We also need help transporting dogs from shelters. We’re always in need of short-term fosters to take in dogs, especially with the holidays coming up. A lot of our regular foster moms go out of town, and so we’re always in need of someone to foster for a short time when they’re on vacation. We’re also always in need of donations, such as dogs supplies, blankets and towels.

What is something you would like people to know about Tiny Paws Rescue?

It just broke my heart when I started going into shelters and all these little dogs just didn’t have a place to go because they weren’t breed-specific. So I just decided to spin off and start my own rescue. When we rescue dogs, they are groomed and taken to the vet, but we don’t just do the basic vetting. We get a lot of dogs that need eye removals and leg amputations. Most of the dogs need dental care and if they’re heartworm-positive, we get them treated and microchipped. We’ve had very high success rates with adoptions. We do references, we do home visits. We have a lot of people who keep their pets for a long time, and we’ve had repeat adoptions. I’ve developed a lot of friendships with our adopters, and it’s been really rewarding.