Pamela Shack: A Heart for Giving That Keeps on Growing
By: Shelia Mader
When Kaboodles Boutique opened its doors on October 2, 2022, at 2899 Orange Street in Marianna, owner Pamela Shack wasn’t just launching a business, she was continuing a legacy of love and generosity deeply rooted in her family and faith.
Born and raised in Marianna, Pamela graduated from Marianna High School in 1994 before attending Lively Technical School and Florida A&M University, where she studied nursing. She built her nursing career in Tallahassee, but eventually returned home to care for her mother, Patricia Ann Ward, who had worked at Chipola College and the Jackson County Health Department.
Pamela and her mother shared a love for hunting treasures at yard sales, but for Pamela, that hobby soon became something more meaningful. Inspired by her mother’s giving spirit, she opened her first store in Greenwood, selling gently used clothing at affordable prices under the name Kaboodles.
Though tragedy struck when her mother passed away in 2017, Pamela carried on Patricia’s compassionate legacy. The following year, Hurricane Michael destroyed her Greenwood shop, but Pamela didn’t let loss define her. Instead, she and her classmates came together to feed neighbors in need. “We were on CNN,” she said with a laugh, recalling those chaotic days. “I’ve just been blessed and believe in blessing people as much as I can.”
After the storm, Pamela worked as a pediatric home care nurse while selling clothes at local festivals. Her reputation grew quickly, especially for her $1 shirts, $1 earrings, and $2 jeans. “If I wouldn’t wear it, I wouldn’t put it in my store,” she said, proud of her boutique-quality selections offered at thrift-store prices.
Kaboodles isn’t just a shop, it’s a space filled with kindness and encouragement. Pamela greets every customer with a listening ear and a faith-based message of hope. “Everybody has a story, and I have time to listen,” she shared.
Her faith also drives her service to the community. In her first year back in business, Pamela organized Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, feeding hundreds of local residents. “The Lord laid it on my heart to feed people,” she said. “I’m not rich, but when God tells you to do something, you follow through. And I’ve never gone lacking since.”
That same mission continues today through Kaboodles Boutique’s Feeding and Clothing Program, which has now partnered with Farm Share to help even more families. Pamela has been running the outreach effort for six years, providing thousands of pounds of food to those in need.
This past weekend, she helped distribute 12,000 pounds of food, everything from milk and juice to produce, snacks, and even coffee and creamer. “Farm Share provides the food, but it’s still through Kaboodles,” she said. “I started out paying for everything myself, but it’s grown so much.”
Pamela hosts the giveaway every other month, taking summers off to recharge. Her next event will be the Christmas Food and Toy Giveaway on December 17, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. Families can receive groceries, clothing, and Christmas toys, no paperwork or sign-up required. “People can bring their kids,” she said. “No questions, no forms, just love and help.”
Pamela’s giving spirit hasn’t gone unnoticed. Locals describe her as devoted, selfless, and endlessly kind, a woman with, as one friend put it, “a heart bigger than Alaska.” Her faith and compassion continue to lift up the Marianna community, one meal, one smile, and one act of generosity at a time.
To support Pamela’s mission or learn more about Kaboodles Boutique, visit her at 2899 Orange Street in Marianna on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or call (850) 557-0175.
