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Open Closet offers another clothing donation option
Open Closet is dedicated to helping those in need in DeKalb.
Open Closet is an organization run by volunteers Tina Farmer, Heather Farmer and Sue Robinson. Open on Mondays and Thursdays, those in need have an opportunity to come to Open Closet to get clothing items for free.
“This is a very good organization because the people who go to Salvation Army put a high dollar on [the clothes],” Tina said, “and no one can afford it.”
There is a wide range of items in the Open Closet building including men, women, children, plus-size, and maternity clothing, stuffed animals, purses, socks and nick knacks.
Patrons of Open Closet include people from Safe Passage and Hope Haven.
“They come down here to get clothes for their kids and themselves,” Tina said.
Everything in the store comes from community donations, however some donations cannot be accepted.
“People donate everything,” Tina said. “People try to drop off things like kitchen tables, but we don’t accept that.”
Currently, clothing donations can be made at the Open Closet building located behind the 7th Day Adventist Church, 300 E. Taylor St., in an open bin. Farmer hopes that some day soon they will receive a donation box so people cannot take the clothes out of the bin.
“People open bags of stuff and it gets drug all over the parking lot,” Tina said. “I don’t mind if they’re taking stuff, but it makes a mess.”
A donation or drop box will allow the clothes to remain safe and prevent the clothes possibly being ruined by sitting outside, and most time in the parking lot out of the bin.
Tina asks students to bring their old clothes in to Open Closet.
“College kids throw a lot away,” Tina said.
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