Jeanette Midgette has always had a love for clothes, and this Christmas, she shared that passion with the community and customers at her business, Jeanette’s Hidden Treasures in Washington.

“As a child I loved to dress up in my mother’s heels and hats,” Midgette said. “I just loved clothes. In home economics class, everyone wanted to cook, but I always wanted to do things with clothes.”

Monday, she opened the doors of her Washington Plaza consignment shop to the children of her customers and neighborhood supporters during a holiday gift event. From a huge pile underneath a Christmas tree, all the kids in attendance received a holiday gift, a bag of fruit and a handful of candy.

Midgette says she planned the event as a way to “give back to the community, to the parents who have made this store what it is.”

Since opening her business in June, Midgette has hosted a number of events, including a yard sale with free hotdogs and chips. With local kids returning to school in August, she was also able to organize a back to school rally to give away 50 backpacks to kids in the neighborhood.

“This has been a wonderful six months,” Midgette wrote in a “thank you” letter to her supporters. “So many people have stepped in, turned into friends and confirmed that God is ‘all in’ with me here!”

Among those she thanked for their continued support were her children, Reginald Simmons, Joshua Simmons and Ronardo White, Apostle Donald Harrell of Greenville, Bishop Verna Blake Phillips, First Lady Angela Phillips and all her friends and customers. Above all, she praised Jesus for her success.

“I give a tithe of what God has blessed me to be able to do … off of what comes into this business … which is a dream come true,” Midgette said. “This has always been a passion of mine. I told the Lord if He ever blessed me and opened the door for me to have my own store or clothing line, I would jump at the chance.”

Jeanette’s Hidden Treasures is located at 848 Washington Plaza. Karen Thiel contributed to this report.