A ONE STOP SHOP FOR STRENGTH

“Hey Jude,” is what people often say when they walk into York’s popular gift shop, Collage. That’s because shop owner Whitney Morgan brings her rescued Old English Sheepdog, Jude, to work every day.

“People come in to cuddle and hug him,” says Morgan. “Children come in and sit with him when they need a little love—he’s well-loved in the community.” The love of a dog is just one way Morgan spreads kindness from her shop into her hometown of York.

A fourth-generation independent retailer, Morgan’s family owned Mailman’s—a York shop that became affiliated with Bon-Ton. Her family ties, art studies, and creative spirit all propelled her to open Collage 11 years ago. “I knew I’d be selling beautiful, unique items, but I never knew how much beauty and kindness I’d be able to see in my customers—the humanity I’d be able to witness through others, those coming in to talk to us and buy gifts for others,” Morgan says.

It was pretty clear that “retail therapy” took on new meaning at Collage.

What does strength mean to you?

“To me, it means being able to face adversity, being able to be a leader. I’ve seen the good and bad in life, but I choose to continue to do my best to make a better world,” Morgan says.

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“I wanted my business to be much more than a gift store—I wanted to use it as a platform to give back to community,” says Morgan.

She began gathering family, including her son, and friends to volunteer at ACCESS York, an emergency shelter. Then she started talking to customers and collecting donations of towels for ACCESS York, and pajamas and toiletries for Covenant House, a homeless shelter for teens.

“I would hear about different organizations that needed things, people who were struggling—there was a need to help,” Morgan says. “And it started to feel like I was making a difference in the community.”

So when the pandemic hit, she continued to use Collage for greater good. She didn’t have to look far. Collage is located near York Hospital, so she donated meals and gifts as a way to thank healthcare workers. This holiday season, she’s organizing pajama drives for both ACCESS York and Covenant House.

“There are so many people who fly under the radar who do really great things,” says Morgan. “I do these things because I feel that it’s important for us to be kind to each other. There are so many people struggling—it’s necessary.”