Unshattered, a nonprofit that employs women in recovery from addiction and trains them to design handbags and other accessories in a variety of attractive styles, colors and prints, has moved into its new home in Wappingers Falls, Dutchess County.
Currently in an interim state, Unshattered”™s new location is being recreated by MASS Design Group as part of New Canaan nonprofit Grace Farms”™”¯Design for Freedom”¯pilot project ”“ a commitment among all three organizations to renovate sustainably by reusing environmentally adaptive materials and only ethically-sourced labor operations. Both the expansion and partnership with Grace Farms are being launched in tandem with Unshattered”™s new Investment Collection leather handbag line.
(Learn more about how the handbag line helps women in recovery and shop the collection”¯here.)
“We”™re so proud of the work Unshattered is doing, and we”™re thrilled that they”™re expanding their presence here in Dutchess County,” said Sarah Lee, CEO of”¯Think Dutchess. “This new building is a win for women in recovery and our entire community. We look forward to seeing Kelly and her team continue to change lives.”
”¯Unshattered”™s founder and CEO Kelly Lyndgaard created the nonprofit in 2016 to help women who have struggled with addiction achieve financial stability and find community by designing handbags and other accessories out of recycled materials. With only a single relapse in its nearly seven-year history,”¯Unshattered has become a leader in the quest to end the addiction relapse cycle, recognized by the White House for its creative, effective methods. Thanks to the new 22,000-square-foot building, Unshattered will be able to hire more women and support their sobriety journeys.
”¯“Getting sober is an incredible achievement but only the first step on the journey for those in recovery,” Lyndgaard said. “I”™m grateful for support of the Hudson Valley community ”“ our Ambassadors of Possibility ”“ who shop our products, donate and encourage our women to keep growing. They are making it possible for women to thrive on the other side of addiction.”
The new space will help Unshattered expand the educational and supportive resources it offers, she added. Eventually, Lyndgaard envisions the nonprofit moving into other services areas to provide women with new skill sets. One goal is to open a café that brings the Dutchess County community together.
”¯”¯The team at Unshattered plans to have a grand opening this summer. The expansion has received support from both community and national partners, including Southwest Airlines. The airline, which first partnered with the nonprofit in 2022, has sent a team of 20 employees as a work crew to help Unshattered renovate its new space while also donating fabrics and funding grants.
