Caring Closet is a non-profit organization that provides high-quality clothing to those who need it at no cost.
Our Story
Imagine suddenly having to leave behind your home, clothing and belongings. For children facing economic instability or domestic transition, a sense of stability, safety and confidence can be restored when their basic needs are met. For children in need, clothes aren’t just about fit and fashion … it’s about well-being and the ability to meet the challenges they face.
This is what prompted Sara Fender to found Caring Closet. In her work with UMFS, a Virginia nonprofit that provides foster care, residential treatment and other services for children and families, Sara saw many children overwhelmed by the lifechanging adjustments they had to make. To help children who often arrived at UMFS with no more than the clothes on their backs, Sara began collecting clothes in her garage. With the support of friends, volunteers and partners, her collection grew into much more.
Today, Caring Closet provides high-quality clothing, necessities and comfort items to children and families through partnerships with organizations and individuals throughout the Richmond community. Caring Closet strives to increase stability, confidence and in turn, opportunity. Whether getting ready for the first day of school or a job interview, clothing makes a difference in how we feel and how others feel about us. Our clothing donations are curated, personalized and versatile, helping develop a wardrobe that inspires pride and poise in our clients.
When you donate to the Caring Closet, you’re truly changing lives.
Our Vision
Empowering people to live their lives with dignity and confidence.
Why The CC Was Started
The BIG Picture Problem
There’s a lack of free, high-quality clothing available to at-risk/vulnerable families in the Richmond community. In addition, some children and families are in need of basic necessities and hygiene items.
What Solutions Do We Provide?
Caring Closet accepts, organizes, curates and donates consignment-quality, FREE clothing, offering timely assistance in a supportive setting, as well as bags filled with necessities and comfort items that are tailored to the needs of the recipients.
Why is this Important?
Lack of adequate, appropriate clothing and hygiene supplies impact a variety of social and economic aspects of a person’s life, including peer acceptance, employment and education opportunities, and quality of life.
Our Value to the Community
Through our clothing and supply donation services, Caring Closet:
Helps improve clients’ quality of life through independence, self-confidence, health, security and peer acceptance.
Helps strengthen our partners’ client services.
Provides volunteer opportunities to various community groups, schools, service programs, and individuals throughout the Richmond area.
Our Impact
We are excited to announce we have served over 11,000 clients!!
Without question, what we wear is an expression of our identity. The fashion we choose and clothes we wear reflect the way we see ourselves … and how we want others to perceive us. Studies show clothing influences psychological wellbeing and performance. Clothes that fit and feel good improve self-worth, helping our clients feel more confident … empowering and propelling them toward a more successful future.
With these values and vision, Caring Closet curates consignment-quality bags of clothing that are specifically hand selected for our clients based on their requests. These intentional, customized donations help build our clients’ confidence, positioning them for enhanced economic and employment opportunities, peer acceptance, and community connections.
A detailed summary of the total number of clients we have served can be viewed by clicking on this link:
https://lookerstudio.google.com/s/pOcACSC4CdQ
A big thank you to Angie Wetzel for putting together these reports!
Our Mission
To improve equitable access to quality necessities for the vulnerable population.
WHO WE ARE
We’re a diverse team of community members – including teachers, attorneys, clinicians, business professionals, parents, volunteers and retirees – who work together to make life better for children and families in need. Our wide range of backgrounds help us approach problems from various perspectives to develop creative solutions.
Management Team
Operations Manager, Volunteer Coordinator - Genise Whitehurst
Genise is a personal trainer and health coach with a passion for helping others. A mother to three grown children and as a recent empty nester, Genise is looking forward to being able to devote more time as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Caring Closet.
Client Services Coordinator - Jenn Bradshaw
Jenn worked as a pediatric mental health clinician in intensive outpatient and emergency crisis settings before moving her focus to raising a family and volunteering with the Caring Closet, local public schools and her church.
Founder and Board Member - Sara Fender
Sara has more than three decades of experience in the customer service industry, including retail management, sales and partner development. As an adoptive parent and certified foster parent, she has seen firsthand the needs of at-risk families.
Bags 4 Kids Director – Jody Floegel
Jody transitioned from a Trust & Estates attorney to the probate department of the American Cancer Society after discovering her passion for nonprofit work. After becoming a mother and moving to Virginia, Jody started the Bags 4 Kids program.
Donations Manager – Lisa Fahrenkrog
Lisa is a registered nurse who worked with heart patients, including heart transplant recipients, and volunteered as an EMT in Fairfax, Virginia. She is currently raising a young daughter and managing inventory for the Caring Closet.
Data Analyst – Angie Wetzel, Ph.D.
Angie is a faculty member and director of assessment for Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education. She uses her facility with statistics to maintain data systems and interpret trends for the Caring Closet.
Outreach Manager – Judy Lewis
Judy worked for more than 30 years with young students in Richmond, Louisa and Charlottesville. After retiring, she joined Shady Grove United Methodist Church in Glen Allen and began volunteering with the Caring Closet.
Board
Founder – Sara Fender
President - Ann Vaughn
Vice President – Jody Floegel
Secretary – Jenn Bradshaw
Corresponding Secretary – Angie Wetzel
Board Members
Ann Vaughan
Ann has worked as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill and served in the government relations departments of two national nonprofit organizations. She is currently a Program Manager at the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia.
Amy Davis
Amy Davis is a former elementary school teacher and retired attorney. She has three daughters who were adopted from China as well as two sons. She joined the board of the Caring Closet in 2018.
Bruce Willard
Bruce has more than 30 years of experience working with customers in the banking, insurance and finance industries. An active volunteer in his church and the local community, Bruce lives in Glen Allen with his wife and daughter.
