t .
Page 14-THE NEWS-March, 1984
Lynn Lerner is “YoursTruly Needlepoint”
By Helene Nathanson
Lynn Lerner runs a highly
sticcessful business, but will
never see a penny of profit.
Bad bookkeeping? Crooked
partners? Not at all. The pro
fits from Lynn’s needlepoint
shop, Yours Truly, go to
charitable causes.
The shop is operated out of
her home at Columbine Circle
on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5
p.m. It is closed in June, July
and August.
Not only do all of its pro
ceeds go to various charities,
but the shop itself offers
Charlotte’s widest and most
unique array of needlepoint
materials and services.
It all started ten years ago,
when Sam Lemer, Lynn’s hus-
v'band, was Treasurer of the
Hebrew Academy and needed
a way to raise ^nds for the
school. Lynn and Carol Weiner
went to the Gift Show to
gather materials for a needle
point project that would sup
port the Academy.
The first year, they were
able to fund a set of En
cyclopedia Judaica, other
books, as well as over $2,000
in cash for the school.
The project proved to be so
successful from the outset,
that a permanent shop was
established. The concept of
turning over all profits to
charity persisted.
Since that time, Lynn has
donated the proceeds from
Yours Truly to many local
organizations. When she sees
a need in the conmiunity,
Lynn responds to it.
A few years ago, several
men suffered heart attacks at
the JCC. Lynn sprung into ac
tion, donating over $400 for
life-saving and medical
emergency equipment.
Other projects have includ
ed a sound system and projec
tor for Temple Israel; a kiln
and a sound system for the
JCC, electronic stopwatches
for its swim team, and various
cash contributions.
Recipients of Lynn’s gener
osity have also been in the
larger community such as the
Mint Museum, Charlotte Sjon-
phony, The Heart Fund, The
American Cancer Society, and
numerous others.
“In the past two years. I’ve
earmarked all of the money for
a special project at the
Foundation. We have not yet
determined what that project
is, but we have over $10,000 in
that fund now,” said Lynn in
a recent interview.
The ambience at Yours Tru
ly is unique. Because this is
also Lynn’s home, a visitor is
greeted with a warm welcome
and hot coffee. “Having this
shop is a fun way to be able to
help others. I’ve met so many
wonderful people I would not
have been able to meet other
wise,” said Lynn.
A lot of newcomers like to
come to Yours Truly to meet
new people. “On one day, we
had women from Scotland,
England, Puerto Rico and
Israel. It’s been very in
teresting,” adds Lynn.
In running the shop, Lynn
receives valuable assistance
from Arlene Karp, Mary Woj-
Lynn Lerner
nowich, Carol Weiner, Jean
Finkelstein, Lynn Cojac and
Louise Bernstein.
There are two needlepoint
professionals at Yours Truly
who are happy to give free in
struction to beginners and
teach new stitches and techni
ques to the more experienced.
On a recent Thursday, Lin
da Goldsmith visited the shop
and commented, “I enjoy com
ing here because there is a
friendly atmosphere and I get
lots of help on my canvases.
It’s comfortable and warm. I
like to sit and needlepoint
while customers come in.
Sometimes I even meet my
mother here. I come when I
have a lot of time.”
Linda, who is pregnant, is
working on a brightly colored
balloon design — the first
decoration for her baby’s
nursery.
Helen Van Hoy, a customer
and neighbor enjoys visiting
Yours Truly. “Lynn is so ac
commodating. She has time to
help me and has such good col
or sense. Even though she’s
young enough to be my daugh
ter, I feel that Lynn’s a good
friend.”
Diane Laird, a realtor, was
delighted to discuss her ex
periences at Yours Truly. “I
first heard about this shop
when I was taking a CPCC
course. They recommended
Yours Truly as a store with a
complete selection of needle
point items at competitive
prices. You get the personal
approach here, which I like.
It’s one on one help.”
“When I moved to
Charlotte, I didn’t know
anybody,” said Lottie
Goldman, another customer.
“I received a notice about
Lynn’s shop and came over. I
was terribly impressed. My
first project was this bell pull
and I haven’t stopped since I
met Lynn. I love coming by to
visit with the girls in the
neighborhood. Of course, I
still have a lot to leam.”
Lynn described some of
Yours Truly’s merchandise.
“We have kits — fom* or five
designs color-coordinated and
ready to pick up. We carry
travel bags with a needlepoint
monogram or design, travel
kits, backpacks, child’s gar
ment bags, luggage bags, tote
bags and many lucite items —
like picture frames. There are
items here that cannot be
found in other needlepoint
shops in Charlotte. When I go
to out-of-town shows, I pur
chase specific canvases for cer
tain customers. They are .
delighted with this personal
service. Yours Truly can have
any picture copied onto a can
vas. We have somebody who
will personaUy design can
vases to complement a
customers fabric.”
Co Krogering
variety of yo
Roshec foods
At the age of five, Lynn was
taught to needlepoint by her
mother. Lynn has instructed
many groups including the
Florence Crittendon Home,
the Girl Scouts, Newcomers
and the Needlepoint Guild.
Yours Truly holds an
unusual sale at the end of the
year. Lynn explains, “We have
an annual sale in the beginning
of May. It starts with a
10-20% discount on all of our
painted items and progresses
to 50% by the end of the
month. It enables us to clear
out the year’s inventory and
the women appreciate the
discounts.”
Looking back to the time of
the formation of Yours Truly,
L3om reflects, “I worried a lot
in the beginning that the
customers wouldn’t come,
that it wouldn’t be a success.
Now, I really look forward to
Thursday. It’s my favorite
day of the week.”
1^ Tv.'t-i*
Lottie Goldman and her
custom-mounted bell pull.
Empire Frozen
Kosher Foods
Pie Crust
Potato Latkes
Natural Cut Potatoes
Chaiiah Dough
Chaii-ettes
Rye Bread
Chicken
Breaded Mushrooms
Pot Pies
Pizza
Bagels
English Muffin Mix
Frozen Bllntzes (large variety)
Bagel Pizza
Canic Bread
Liver spread
Manischewftz Brand
• Matzos
• soup Mixes
• Borscht
• soups
• Matzo Ball Mix
• Matzo Ball Broth
• cefilteFlsh
• whitefish & Pike
• Potato Kugel Mix
• Matzo Meal
• Matzo Ball soup
• Bakit
Others
• i^kKxlles by Goodman, Greenfield
and Mrs. weiss
• Soups by Carmel, Croyden House,
Goodman and Telma
• Mother's Schav
• Mother's All Whitefish
• Rokeach Old Vienna Fish
• Rokeach Tomato & Mushroom sauce
• woiff Groats/Kasha
• Joyva Halvah candy
• Kedem Grape Juice
• Rokeach Pareve Coffee creamer
• swee-Touch-nee Tea Bags
• Panni Shredded Potato Pancake Mix
• Panni Bavarian Potato Pancake Mix
• Pasteurized Goats Milk