Women's Boutique Sets Up ‘Pink Mission Tent’

Long Beach residents huddled around mounds and racks of clothes under a pink tent on a sidewalk at the 100 block of East Park Avenue on Sunday morning. Ooh La La, a women’s boutique, held a donation dubbed “Pink Mission Tent.”

The two-hour event featured all new merchandise that the boutique and participating vendors donated, as well as used items that were given by employees and customers for anyone impacted by Hurricane Sandy. People were allowed to walk away with up to three pieces of new merchandise and an unlimited number of the slightly worn clothes and footwear.

“Most people took practical pieces: shoes, boots, sweaters and scarves,” owner Jenny Montiglio said about the people who showed up, some of whom lost everything in the storm.

Ooh La La has five locations — Long Beach, Huntington, Sayville, Babylon and Fire Island — and only the latter store was hit hard with flooding. The rest, including the shop in the city at 134 E. Park Ave., sustained minor damage.

“That’s kind of why we wanted to do something, because we weren’t that impacted,” said Montiglio.

She used social media and an email blast to get the word out about the event to her customers. In all, she and her employees donated some $5,000 of new and used merchandise.

There response was great and people were thanking them throughout the morning, Montiglio said. “All left feeling great for helping our town in need,” she added.

Now Ooh La La looks to continue the benevolence. On Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the four functioning shops will feature discounts that will go toward hurricane relief efforts. Each boutique will take 25 percent off the entire store and 5 percent off all sales donated to Long Island Red Cross, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 30. Shoppers will also receive complimentary baked goods and wine, and customers dressed in pink will get a complimentary gift.  

If you are interested in donating items, contact Ooh La La at 631-923-0851.