Did you know that more than 420,000 children and teenagers live in foster care in the US, including more than 30,000 in Indiana?
The Foster Closet was started in March 2021 as a way to provide local foster families with the clothing and supplies they needed when they took in a new foster child. We knew what a challenging but absolutely vital service these families provide to our community, and we wanted to help.
We soon found that another group needed at least as much help: the many grandmas, aunts, and other relatives who are raising their grandkids/nieces/nephews/cousins, because the children’s parents are incapacitated. And we are happy to provide clothing and supplies to other needy children, as long as supplies are available.
We’ve been so gratified to expand very quickly! In our five years of existence, we’ve provided help to thousands of children in hundreds of families, many of them more than once.
And we’ve expanded to include families in shelters such as Middle Way House and New Hope for Families and to provide help through the county Department of Child Services, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Youth Shelter, Shalom, the Salvation Army, Monroe County United Ministries (MCUM), other social service groups. The Foster Closet is here to help any needy child (as well as the other children in that family).
About the Foster Closet
The Foster Closet welcomes community help. You can donate gently-used children’s clothing (including winter jackets), toys, and books by contacting contact@mcfostercloset.org. You can receive help from the Foster Closet by emailing that address or texting 812-345-5073. If you have ideas about other ways to help, please do say so!
If you are a foster parent or kinship placement family receiving a baby, you can get free baby equipment at Tandem Birth Services on East Third Street in Bloomington, just west of Red Lobster. There you can also sign up for free diapers.
Please keep in mind that you are not alone. We all benefit when all children have what they need.