Denver's 'La Cache' consignment shop has multi-million dollar impact for local children

DENVER -- One store. Nearly 70 workers. No paychecks. One massive impact.

 

"La Cache" is an antique consignment shop in Denver, selling everything from fine china, to silver flatware, art, decor, and more. They've been in business for over 30 years. 

 

"We don't work. Well we work, but we don't get a salary. We're volunteers," said Kay Norman, one of those volunteers.

So what happens with all the money they make? It all goes to Children's Hospital.

"We give to the hospital. Every month we give them a check that was our net income, after expenses, what we made that month," longtime volunteer Lorna Cheldelin told Denver7.

The shop was started back when Children's Hospital was in downtown Denver. Listen to some of the stories that pass through the shop, and you'll hear of a little corner room in the back warehouse of the old hospital, or of wine and cheese parties to promote the shop among the doctors and nurses. 

"We just stumbled along and learned throughout the years," volunteer Charla Rudolph said. 

 

They learned, and grew over the years. 

"Our first year we netted $13,333. It went to $18,000, $34,000, and it grew and grew," Cheldelin said. 

 

Nine miles down Colfax, as soon as you walk into the hospital, you will see the impact. Donations from La Cache bought the patient check-in area, and now funds the research unit studying allergy diseases in kids. 

"La Cache has had a tremendous impact. We could not afford to send our researchers to meetings, to have our research assistants do the cutting edge research that they do here at Children's Hospital Colorado," Dr Glenn Furuta, who runs that unit, said with a smile. 

 

All thanks to a few dozen seniors on a mission to give back. Some have personal connections to the hospital, others do not. But they are changing the lives of children everyday. 

 

"You're not conscious that it's work at all. You're loving it and doing something good," volunteer Joan Fallensby said.

 

And you just can't put a price tag on that. 

"Somebody once asked me if I'd do this for money," volunteer Marilyn Kessler said. "I wouldn't. There's not enough."

 

La Cache is located on 4th and Downing in Denver. They take consignments at a 60/40 split as well as straight donations, where 100 percent of all sales goes to Children's. For more information call 303-871-9605.