Courtesy photo Volunteers for the Baby Pantry in Alpena pose for a photo during a recent event.

ALPENA — Where can families that need help with their children’s material needs like clothes, shoes, coats, boots, diapers, wipes, baby shampoo, and other essentials go? The Center of Charity, located on Lockwood Street in Alpena is open and going strong after a fire that closed it down for several months in 2025. They are there to do just that.

The Children’s Closet and Baby Pantry also help families in need. The Children’s Closet is open to families with clothing from size 4 through teens available for summer and winter giveaways, and as needed throughout the year, mostly through the agencies. Baby Pantry is open the third Thursday of each month from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. for baby necessities through size 4T. The only requirement is a birth certificate from first time users of the Baby Pantry.

Being in need doesn’t mean parents are necessarily out of work. It can be that hard-working families that make minimal pay need some assistance and they reach out to both. They are trying to make their lives less stressful so they can take care of their children the best they can.

The community is very involved in keeping both of these charities going. Monetary donations by individuals and groups, including fundraisers, keeps these pantries open. Also, a large part of these pantries are the many generous individuals that drop off gently used, clean, folded clothes in the donation box open 24/7 on Lockwood Street, which are necessary to keep both groups thriving.

Christine Kihn, director of the Center of Charity, is very appreciative of the all-volunteer group of women who keep these pantries going. “The beauty that radiates from the women that work at Baby Pantry and Children’s Closet is the most Christ-like thing I’ve seen in Alpena.”

Both Baby Pantry and Children’s Closet is

Last year the Baby Pantry served over 540 families including 642 children and gave away 22,916 diapers. Children’s Closet filled over 500 orders last year. At a recent giveaway, 190 children from 64 families received summer clothing.

Children’s Closet began in 1988 when clothing was collected for migrant workers who came to Alpena to pick different crops. It then progressed as the need grew to what it is today. The Alpena Baby Pantry began in 2003 as a nonprofit organization through the program Alpena/Presque Isle Child Abuse and Neglect Team, which is a local council of Children Trust Michigan. Since then, it has assisted thousands of local residents with their infants’ needs.

One can hear the relief after parents “shop” at having these pantries available. “I’m so grateful you are here to help us.” “We are so blessed to have you here.” Or families that no longer need the assistance reach out and give back saying, “My family used you when we were going through a rough time.”

Children’s Closet and Baby Pantry plan to keep going strong with the blessing of the Catholic Church allowing us to use the Center of Charity as well as the community’s continued strong support. Baby Pantry can be reached at 989-464-2790. The mailing address is P.O. Box 267. Children’s Closet’s address is P.O. Box 671, both in Alpena.