Many parents in the Monroe, Wash., area often find themselves wondering how they can keep up the wardrobes of their growing children.
This is where God’s Closet, a modern take on the Dorcus Society, steps into the picture. For just a $1, families can come and pick up the clothing they need for their children — and sometimes a little more.
“We broke our record at our most recent event by serving 167 families, nearly 400 people, with free clothing and haircuts and were also able to give away two cribs, three to four bassinets and 14 strollers,” says Tracey Gaver, God’s Closet Monroe director.
But recently, the trend of families who come and pick up what they need has shifted into a cycle of blessing.
“Families have started to recycle the clothes they’ve picked up from us as their kids grow out of them,” says Gaver. “They’re starting to feel a part of the giving cycle, and I hadn’t realized how powerful that feeling would be. It’s not just about ‘give me,’ it’s about ‘how can I serve too?’”
Volunteers (including previous shoppers and families) come to lend a hand to sort, organize and set up for quarterly shop days. Donations are gathered between shop days from local businesses, church members and community residents.
“We now have families, groups of different faiths and community members who come to serve with us,” says Gaver. “Some of these families just want their children to experience this service … even if it’s just sorting. We are blessed to have an involved community.”
Nominated as a Community Champion
Recently, God’s Closet Monroe was nominated as a 2018 community champion hosted by Molina Healthcare.
“It turns out that it’s a really big deal to be nominated and recognized for the community champion award, and it was an incredible honor to be nominated and included with the other nominees,” says Gaver. “Some of the nonprofits nominated had eliminated homelessness in their community, created prison ministries or created free supply closets for students in need. I was okay with not winning if there were people such as this."
Although God’s Closet did not take an award home, Gaver simply feels blessed to have been recognized. “The families leave with clothing, and we leave being blessed,” says Gaver. “It’s an incredible gift to give every single time.”
Stacks of donated clothes sit on tables ready for the quarterly shop day at God’s Closet in Monroe, Wash.
Families from the Monroe, Wash., community sit in the sanctuary of the Monroe Church to wait their turn for the quarterly shop day.
