Local Nonprofit Works to Provide Items to Help Foster Children Succeed
Macomb Foster Closet is a nonprofit organization in Macomb County that provides much-needed clothing and other essential items to children in foster care and the families that care for them.
Macomb Foster Closet is a 100 percent volunteer-run non-profit organization that serves about 2,000 foster families throughout Michigan. Their mission is to provide support to anyone in the foster care system. They strive to make it easier and more attractive to anyone who currently is caring for or wants to care for children in the foster care system. Macomb Foster Closet provides clothing, hygiene items, recreational items, and toys to foster children. They also provide training to foster families on how to care and support for foster children as potential foster families are required by the state to receive such training.
Macomb Foster Closet board member, Cheryl Duncan said, “We strive to provide these children with a sense of dignity that they normally would not receive due to the limited amount of money foster families receive from the state.” By providing these items, children in the foster care system are more likely to have a successful future in a system that does not often have positive outcomes.
In order to receive items, a child must meet four criteria. Children who are matched with a family in which they have no relation to. Children who are in the care of a family member who is not their own parent. Families who just recently entered the foster care system and have not received the state funds. Any children that live in state-run residential assistance homes. There is no age limit on who can receive items from Macomb Foster Closet.
Macomb Foster Closet is always looking for donations. Items that are accepted include new or gently used clothing, hygiene items, baby supplies, new toys, used sporting equipment, and gift cards geared toward teens. To donate, people can sign up using the link provided on the Macomb Foster Closet website donation page contact Macomb Foster Closet on Facebook or by email. Items can also be donated from their Amazon Wish List or shipped to the address listed on the website.
Macomb Foster Closet also runs volunteer orientations for people who wish to join their volunteer team. Volunteers work to help sort and organize items donated to Macomb Foster Closet. For more information on other ways to donate and volunteer visit https://macombfostercloset.org/