By Hope Daniels
FAIR HAVEN – Village Lift, a small Fair Haven boutique with a much bigger mission, is giving local high school girls the chance to learn and earn while building career skills, financial stability and purpose – both at home and abroad.
Rita Das, along with her friend Merideth Regina, opened the “social enterprise” to create opportunities for women and children, driven by commerce, compassion and community. Das’ leadership spans many ventures, but it’s this Fair Haven brick-and-mortar that’s quickly getting noticed.
Curated with beautiful garments, block prints, cute totes, unique jewelry and inviting artwork from independent artists and local artisans, the boutique’s fun, feminine aesthetic feels less like a store and more like a visit to your best friend’s home. Warm lighting, seasonal merchandise, and local collaborations give the shop a distinctly personal feel.
But for Das, Village Lift is more than a store. It is a place where the next generation can grow and flourish.
“I firmly believe that creating sustainable, long-term impact requires engaging the next generation,” Das said. “Education has always been important to me. My father came to the U.S. on a government scholarship for graduate school, and he instilled in my sister and me the importance of education, financial stability and a strong work ethic.”
That belief led Das to participate in an annual Monmouth County program that connects young people ages 16 to 24 with opportunities in a variety of industries, from retail to food services, government and the arts. The state-funded Summer Youth Work Experience Program gives teens and young adults skills-building work experience and a stipend.
“It was a great fit for what we are trying to accomplish at Village Lift,” she said. “We provide the hands-on experience, mentorship and real-world projects, while the program makes it possible for students to earn while they learn. It’s truly a win-win – students gain skills, confidence and income, Village Lift benefits from their energy and ideas and our community invests in its next generation of leaders.”
Regina emphasized how the internship experience is unlike any other she has worked with in the past. “One of the things that makes the Village Lift internship so special is that our students aren’t just ob- serving – they’re actually becoming part of the business. When I joined Village Lift, I saw an opportunity to bring real-world experience to young women in our community.”
Das and Regina look for interns who are dependable, curious and comfortable taking initiative. Retail experience isn’t required. “We look for students who are… motivated, willing to learn, and comfortable stepping outside their comfort zone. Skills can be taught; what matters most is a willingness to learn, communicate and connect with people,” Regina said.
HOW THE INTERNSHIP WORKS
Das believes the best way to learn about business and social impact is by doing.
The Village Lift internship offers three paths. In the International path, students work on an overseas “livelihood project” with a women’s group or nonprofit. The Community path connects students with local organizations through fundraising and awareness projects. In the Retail path, students learn the business behind the boutique, including product creation, sourcing, inventory, pricing, merchandising and sales. Regardless of the track chosen, interns gain a broader understanding of how ideas become meaningful, sustainable projects.
“They learn to identify needs, develop solutions, communicate effectively, manage resources, and think creatively about generating revenue and creating value,” Das said.
The experience is designed to equip students with practical skills they can apply in college, the workforce or in future entrepreneurial ventures. They learn to serve customers, market products, work as part of a team, manage resources and understand the connection between business and community.
Over the past three years, 16 high school and college students have participated in the program, including four interns in the most recent year. Two of this year’s interns will carry Village Lift Impact’s mission to their college campuses.
Madailein McCarty is currently an intern at the store and embraces every opportunity to learn how to manage a business. “The environment at Village Lift, without fail, is always wonderful and has become a place I would consider as my second home,” she said.
“The customers and vendors are amazing (and) the connections I have made are priceless. Working alongside Rita and Meri is so much fun,” McCarty added.
“Being a part of something that helps those in need makes my heart so full,” she said, and noted that it is rewarding to learn new skills while having fun.
THE BIGGER MISSION
The internship is one piece of a much larger vision. Village Lift was created on the belief that business and doing good can – and should – work hand in hand. In addition to creating jobs in the Two River area, Village Lift creates jobs overseas by providing income and opportunity to the people who bring Village Lift’s clothing to life.
Locally, the boutique has provided a platform for more than 30 women-owned businesses to showcase their products or offer their services. The boutique has also partnered with and supported multiple local nonprofits through fundraising events, using the business as a vehicle to strengthen other organizations doing meaningful work in the community.
Village Lift’s storefront will celebrate its first anniversary in November. While its first year focused heavily on building a strong, sustainable business foundation, the organization has already seen its value by creating meaningful opportunities for youth, women, entrepreneurs, artists and nonprofits. Their goal is to build on this momentum and expand their measurable impact each year.
“We are still a young business, but our vision is clear,” Das said. “If we can inspire people, especially young people, to view business as a force for good, we have accomplished something much bigger than simply opening a store.”
This article originally appeared in the October 1-7, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
