JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The legacy Foster Closet needs your help as it seeks a new space to call home.
Foster Closet — a local nonprofit based on the Southside, has helped more than 13,000 foster children in Jacksonville for 16 years, according to FosterCloset Founder, President and Executive Director Tammy McGuire.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
Action News Jax Shanila Kabir spoke to a foster parent who shared what the Foster Closet means to this growing community
Leaders at Foster Closet say after 14 years of an agency supporting their overhead, it was taken away in July. This caused the Foster Closet to temporarily close until it can find another space for the thrift store.
Now they need help to find a new shop to provide necessities for foster children.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
Foster mom Connie Mitchell says the Foster Closet has provided clothing for the two young girls who just left her home and went back to their biological mom
“I remember there was a little red dress and she was like, ‘I want to wear this little red dress.’ I was like ‘We’re just going to the playground’ but it was special and it was from the Foster Closet it made her feel good,” Mitchell said.
McGuire said the goal is to open a thrift store filled with necessities for foster children, ranging from clothes to book bags to toothbrushes.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
She said the demand to support foster children in Jacksonville is growing.
“The foster care community in large is going up, but I think our families are kind of going down so we need more foster families that are quality, ready to serve, and help those large families. Large family units are coming in left and right so by having a Foster Closet keep going will help sustain those families too,” McGuire said.
The organization is holding a Christmas shopping event on Saturday exclusively for pre-selected foster families and McGuire said they’re giving out Christmas wishes worth up to $200.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Foster Closet open its thrift store. Click here for more information about that.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.