I didn’t know the Giving Closet existed, once I heard about it and what they provided I was like, wow how come this is such a secret. Everybody in our community should know about what the Closet provides. Providing clothing for women, men and children in all shapes, and sizes free of charge for those who are need of these items rocks. And better yet to learn that the Giving Closet’s purpose is not to enable people in need but actually attempts to provide a hand up for folks who are just down on their luck.

After hearing more about The Giving Closet I visited their location and was amazed at the buzz of activity going on inside. Surrounded by what seemed a ton (may have been if weighed) were donations coming in in just about any container possible from big boxes to plastic bins to big shopping bags. Several volunteers were in process of sorting clothing items and placing into specific carts to be further identified and hung on racks for shopping floor.  I left knowing a lot of real effort and activity was going on to help others.

At the time I visited The Closet it was not open for shopping business and I noticed from the care of how the clothing was arranged and then subsequently organized on the actual shopping floor that the philosophy and attitude of The Closet, its volunteers and staff was one of honoring the shopping client or perhaps a better word comes to mind – Dignity – providing all of this with dignity for the shopper in mind.  After leaving some days later I was thinking how cool for our community to have a Closet such as this.

I see face after face as I do service here in our community.  Those faces have been evolving over the past fourteen years while The Giving Closet has been in existence. In the early years the sea of faces was an overwhelming presence on our free shopping floor.  The needs in every face seemed bottomless!  I soon discovered that I only needed to meet the need of the one standing in front of me to the best of my ability and then move onto the next. That knowledge quickly diffused the need and its unyielding demands. This discovery allowed me to uncover every face and find the voice that just needed to be heard. After recognizing and accepting the person behind the face, a powerful experience began to take place.  These encounters changed all that I had been taught about poverty.

Changing the face of poverty is simply a step of re-education. Have you ever observed a small child at play? They only see another child they want to play with. The clarity of a small child’s actions is so easy. They do not see status, race, money, education, or job security. They just want an experience with another child. They see only with eyes of acceptance.

Take a look around you.  Poverty has no prejudice. It accepts all. Our neighbors, co-workers, relatives, friends, foreigners, unforgotten ones and outsiders are all at risk. It is all around us.  There are many issues that can threaten the support of a family in today’s economy. Life can turn on a dime, giving way to devastating health issues, job loss and family crisis.

Poverty has many faces and today I see them all. I am so grateful that I truly see every person that I am privileged to meet and serve at The Giving Closet.

Executive Director Denise Currie

The Giving Closet is excited to unveil our newly designed website (by EpicDesignLabs) to the world. Our main goals were to make our site easier to use and to make it more visually appealing, to attract more people to take part. Brand new navigation should make it easier for those in need to find the help we have to offer, and those that want to help to find ways to get involved. A stronger use of visuals should help people see what we do even better.

If you’ve ever considered joining us or have been looking for a way to help your community, consider volunteering today.

If you see anything amiss in our site as we launch it, or have any ideas on how to make it better, send us a note.

We love Clark County and would like to thank all the countless volunteers and donors who have helped us help so many of our friends and neighbors in need. We look forward to many more years helping those in need discover hope and a helping hand at the Giving Closet.

Thank You!

What a blessing I’ve found volunteering at The Closet! Being able to serve and prepare our shopping floor for our clients is such a privilege. It is such a humbling experience for me personally.

Thanks to my friend and founder Denise Currie, I have the utmost respect for her vision. God is good, He is so very present here at The Closet. I feel, through Denise, God has guided me to The Closet.

There is always something to be done, whether restocking shoes, filling up the clothes-racks, or putting out more toys, games, puzzles and books for our childrens clients. You can always find something that needs to be done.

All of the volunteers are here to help and put others needs before ourselves. It is a very comforting accomplishment. I know I not only speak for myself but all my co-volunteers on Monday and Tuesdays, Ann, Cheryl, Janette and little Lindsay are here to serve also. I thank Denise for her determination, perseverance and her love for this Ministry. And for that, The Closet has made me a better person.

Thank you!

-Jan

The Giving Closet’s focus during the back to school season this year is foster kids and high risk youth between the ages of 13 and 21 years old.  They have not been adopted and are about to age out of the system.  We are planning a day of shopping for these forgotten students.  We will meet them at the store and give them a chance to pick exactly what they want to get ready for heading back to school!

Our goal this first year is to help 20 students, but we will assist as many students as your generosity will allow!!

Donate Now

…to provide a foster kid a back to school shopping experience.

I have observed and have a good sense of the Closet’s flow of donations over the last several years as a board member, and with my wife as a volunteer. The Closet serves a lot of families a day and a lot of clothing items are going out the door. What has been amazing to me is that we have never run out of donations coming in.

We have done a fair job in letting the Vancouver Community know that the Closet exists and once they realize we give out donations (after they are sorted and hung in store like fashion) as they come in at no charge…free for qualified folks, those who are truly in need of a helping hand., they exclaim; “we want to give and do more!” (A lot of volunteers are recruited this way).

Once folks learn the Closet exists they tell their friends and ask “What’s in your Closet?” The need is huge and yet the community by a lot of methods (word of mouth etc.) is getting the word out. The Closet is blessed to have these donations keep coming in to serve the Community in this much needed way. Thank you Vancouver and Clark County!

Clothing Rack Donation

1/4 Clothing Rack $12.50 USD1/2 Clothing Rack $25.00 USD3/4 Clothing Rack $37.50 USDWhole Clothing Rack $50.00 USD

For all you Amazon.com lovers out there…Shop ’til you drop and The Giving Closet can reap the benefits!

You shop. Amazon gives.

Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to The Giving Closet when you shop at smile.amazon.com 

Same products, prices and services.

AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know with the added benefit of supporting charitable organizations.

 

Let’s Get Started!