(Photo by Carolyn Kelly)
CAPITOLA — Since its founding 50 years ago, the Daisy Auxiliary has raised more than $1.5 million for Family Service Agency of the Central Coast.
That’s a boon for an organization that has been providing counseling, suicide prevention and other supportive services for residents of the tri-county area for 60 years.
Most of those funds have been raised through the Daisy Store, a 1,620-square-foot retail location in Capitola’s King’s Plaza Shopping Center known to have a selection of “upscale resale” merchandise.
“Every dime that comes into the store goes to Family Service,” said Karen Moore, historian for the Daisy Auxiliary. “We do quite well.”
The group has also been hosting fundraisers every year since 1972. The fashion show, luncheon and boutique event, which includes a silent auction, has been pulling in about $30,000 annually for Family Service Agency, according to Moore.
Next year’s iteration of the fundraiser will take place in March at the Seascape Resort.
The Daisy Auxiliary has 140 members, with more than 90 active members who volunteer for a shift every month at the Daisy Store.
Dee Sargent of Watsonville joined the Daisy in 2010 on the recommendation of a friend.
“I get to meet new people as I help people that need help,” she said.
Moore, a member since 2001, decided to join after retiring as a teacher in San Jose, where she commuted to daily from Aptos.
“When you are commuting, you don’t really get to know where you live,” she said. “I thought I need to get to know my community.”
All of the items available for purchase, from high-end clothing to jewelry and other accessories, are from donations from individuals and shops throughout Santa Cruz County and the surrounding area.
And Daisy members only select the best, Moore said.
“When you walk in, you wouldn’t think it’s a resale store,” she said.
According to history compiled by Moore, the Daisy Auxiliary began in 1967, when Margy Lezin, a friend of the FSA director, decided to raise funds for the organization. She gathered her friends, Bay Nigh Alexander, Marilyn Hutable and Sue Wilson, and together they visited resale stores in Marin for ideas.
The first Daisy store opened on Front Street in Santa Cruz on April 18, 1968. But after the store was destroyed by the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, the Daisy moved to Portola Drive.
It moved once more to 1550 41st Ave. in Capitola in 1996 before settling into its present location in the King’s Plaza Shopping Center in 2009.
“It’s been quite successful,” Moore said. “There are a lot of retail stores that haven’t been around for 50 years.”
•••
The Daisy Auxiliary is looking for new members. For information, call Pat Duncan at 685-3790.
The Daisy Store is located in the King’s Plaza Shopping Center, 1601 41st Ave. in Capitola. It is open Mondays from 1-4 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and closed Sunday. For information, call 462-3686 or visit fsa-cc.org/daisy.
