Young Girard mom helps others with hard lives through Caylea's Helping Hands

GIRARD

Inside Caylea’s Helping Hand, you might not find Caylea right away.

You might expect her to be behind the counter when you walk in, and you’d be right. But you’re going to have to bend over it to see her, sitting on the floor playing with her toys.

It’s 3-year-old Caylea’s mother, 22-year-old Kaylyn Flowers, who opened the second-hand store Oct. 8 at 237 N. State St. to help people who may have been handed a hard set of circumstances by life.

Stop in from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday if that’s you or if you just like to find bargains.

Flowers named the store after her daughter and runs it with the help of her fiance, Tim Tonkinson, and she’d love it if you’d browse around.

Her car seats, in perfect condition, are $20. Her changing tables are $15, and all night stands and chairs are $5. A wooden table with bench seats is $100, and it would look great in any kitchen or dining room. There’s a nice couch, in good condition, for $35, and TVs, microwaves and lamps that all work.

“I test every product before I put it out,” she assured recently from one room of the two-room store, which housed the furniture, books, dishes and glassware.

In her other room, she has a crib for $50; baby gates, walkers, high chairs; car seats; and a lot of clothes.

She prides herself on her inexpensive clothing.

“I might be only 22, but life’s been pretty hard,” she explained.

Read more about her venture in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.