What started 15 years ago as a makeshift garage sale inside a home has grown into a ministry that now serves women experiencing sexual exploitation and sex trafficking across the Shreveport-Bossier area.
Next month, that mission will take center stage through an event designed to blend creativity, community and purpose into one evening.
On June 18, The Hub Ministry will host its first “Nowhere to Wear It Party” at The Event Center @ Boardwalk beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The fundraiser will support Purchased: Not for Sale!, a ministry program of The Hub that provides pathways to recovery for survivors of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking.
The event encourages attendees to pull out the outfits tucked away in the backs of their closets. Fur coats, formal gowns, loud prints, fun shoes, vintage outfits and bold accessories are all part of the vision for the night.
Guests can expect entertainment and interactive experiences throughout the evening, including music from DJ Static Shock, a silent auction, photo booth experiences, a dirty soda bar and food and beverages provided by Live! Casino featuring a nacho bar and desserts.
At the center of the evening will be the inaugural “Trashion Show,” a runway competition featuring 10 selected local models wearing fashion pieces created primarily from recycled or repurposed materials.
Organizers say the competition is intended to celebrate creativity while reinforcing the event’s deeper message of transformation and restoration.
The featured designs must be constructed from at least 75% recycled, reused or repurposed materials. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, use of recycled materials, construction and durability, overall visual impact and runway presentation. Awards will include both a judge’s choice and a people’s choice honor.
A panel of local women recognized for their leadership and community involvement will judge the competition. The panel includes Waynette Ballengee, fundraiser, event organizer and philanthropist; Susan Kirton, actress, writer, director and “Loving Living Local” host; Grace Anne Blake, salon owner and Caddo Parish commissioner for District 8; and Heidi Kallenberg, SRAC Christmas in the Sky chairman, art advocate and philanthropist. The release describes the judges as women who have collectively impacted the Shreveport-Bossier communities through their “leadership, influence and vision for the continued prosperity of our citizens.”
Among those judges is Kirton, who said the storytelling element behind each design is what she is most excited to experience during the event.
“I am thrilled to serve on the judges panel for the Inaugural Trashion Show. I like to think of myself as the ‘Narrative Curator’ judge, drawn not only to the craftsmanship and design, but to the choices behind the materials selected for each outfit. I’ll be looking for the who, what and why woven into each creation: the hidden history behind the reclaimed materials, the bold imagination that transformed waste into wearable art, and the message each designer is brave enough to tell. I cannot wait to experience the runway energy, celebrate the models’ vision, and witness sustainability taking center stage in the most unique way possible. Let the runway magic begin!”
While the runway competition and themed attire create a playful atmosphere, organizers say the purpose behind the event remains deeply rooted in supporting women seeking freedom and restoration.
Purchased: Not for Sale! works directly with survivors in a variety of environments, including jails, motels, strip clubs and hospitals, offering support and resources through outreach teams, residential recovery homes, diversion programs, weekly classes and resource centers.
The event itself also reflects the heart behind the ministry’s story.
“Purchased: Not for Sale started with a makeshift garage sale in my home where I sold my clothing. I could have never imagined it would become a ministry that has been giving women experiencing sexual exploitation access to freedom for 15 years. The “Nowhere to Wear It Party,” featuring the 1st Annual Trashion Show, is all about clothing and such a fun way for us to tell the story of Purchased!
We want women in our city who are currently not free to feel the effects of hundreds of women across our city who are willing to come together and fight for them! And there’s no easier way to do that than a fun girls’ night out where you can finally wear that fur!” said Cassie Hammet, founder of The Hub: Urban Ministries.
In addition to ticket sales, sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations interested in supporting both the event and the mission behind it.
Sponsors automatically become part of The Hub’s Make It Your Business Network, a coalition of local businesses working to help provide pathways to restored lives for individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty and sex trafficking throughout the Shreveport-Bossier communities.
Businesses participating in the network receive year-round visibility through The Hub’s website, social media platforms and fundraising events while also demonstrating corporate generosity and civic leadership.
Tickets for the event are currently available online at www.thehubministry.org/party, with single tickets priced at $81.88 and tables of eight available for $855.50.
For organizers, the event represents an opportunity to gather women across the community for a shared purpose while shining a light on a ministry that has spent more than a decade walking alongside survivors on their journeys toward healing and restoration.
This article was originall published in the June 2026 issue of Three 18 Insider magazine.
