JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Foster Closet, a local nonprofit, continues to be a beacon of hope for foster children.
As they face significant funding cuts, the community’s support is more important than ever.
According to their website, “Recently, our partnership with a child-welfare agency, within Jacksonville, with whom we have partnered for the past 14 years, decided to cut our funding in half without prior notice.
“This unexpected reduction has created an insurmountable financial challenge for us. Despite our efforts and numerous fundraisers throughout the years, we find ourselves unable to sustain the level of services that our foster homes have come to rely upon.”
Its website also states that their mission is to “Shop with a purpose that supports foster families at Foster Closet Thrift Store.”
Foster Closet started its own closet because it found out there was a need, and that was 17 years ago.
After many years and nearly 14,000 foster children helped, this nonprofit needs your help to transition to a new phase.
After being located off St. Johns Bluff Road for years, the closet is struggling to find a new home after its funding was dramatically cut last year.
“Overhead was taken from us unexpectedly back in June from a lead foster care agency. Our families were devastated because their kids come in and shop. They get $500 for each child for free and we felt overwhelmingly devastated,” the nonprofit’s founder Tammy McGuire said.
McGuire discussed how all of the items are now in storage units after Duval County’s Family Support Services did not renew its contract.
Foster Closet can’t help the families like they used to. One way they did this was by putting kids’ thumbprints and names on the wall.
The group is looking to fill a need by transforming into a thrift store.
“Foster overhead was covered by that agency and when it was taken that means that we can’t pay the rent. We can’t pay the bills. All the money from donors goes to the children,” McGuire said. “No one wants to pay for the overhead and that was such a gift and when it was taken we said, ‘How do we regroup?’ So we thought: A thrift store. Isn’t that amazing? We can do what all the other nonprofits are doing locally.”
The goal is to bring joy to children who have already been through a lot.
They receive items like toothpaste, deodorant, new underwear and socks, jackets, bathing suits, lovies, games and toys, puzzles and toys, and pretty much anything that was left behind.
“To us it’s an item, but to them it’s a memory,” McGuire said.
According to their website, the organization is currently an online thrift store, but their ultimate goal is to have a brick-and-mortar store by the end of the year.
Here’s how you can help:
- “We are looking for retail space to start FC Thrift Store.”
- “Needing help with software to start FC Thrift Store.”
- “Needing Volunteers to help run the storefront.”
- “Needing Donations to keep our inventory consistent in supporting our Thrift Store.”
As of today, they have raised $4,260 but are hoping to reach $12,000.
If you would like to donate to their GoFundMe click here.
