News photo by Josh Jambor The Foster Closet of Northern Michigan, located next to Thunder Bowl Lanes in Alpena, is currently seeking donations from the community. The Foster Closet provides hygiene items, clothing, and more for foster children.

ALPENA – The Foster Closet of Northern Michigan is currently seeking donations from the community. Operated by volunteers, the Foster Closet helps reduce financial strain on foster families and provides children with personal items, often supporting them within the first few days of placement.

President of the Alpena Foster Closet location, Amy Minton, said that the nonprofit’s mission is to help foster families in Northern Michigan.

“What we do is help kids in foster care, who typically have nothing, and we provide them with new or gently used items to help them feel comfortable,” Minton said. “All of the proceeds go directly to the Foster Closet. Our staff are all volunteers.”

The organization provides clothing, underclothing, toys, shoes, baby equipment, personal care items, and gear to children placed in the foster care system in the State of Michigan. Children who have been adopted through foster care and placed with relatives also receive items from the closet.

Milton explained that children are often placed into foster care with no personal items and in many cases, they enter foster care with only the clothes on their back.

“The kids are so appreciative of everything they receive, when you see the look on their face when they receive something they do not have, it makes it all worth it,” Minton said. “In addition to accepting new and gently used items, the organization accepts monetary donations to buy the sizes, and items we do not have.”

Thanks to the organization, the financial burden of a new placement is reduced, freeing up funds that would otherwise be used to fulfill these immediate needs.

“Everything is free for the foster children, they can come shop as much as they want,” Minton said.

The Foster Closet is currently looking for the following items: (new or gently used) clothing (preemie-teenage), shoes/winter boots, coats, cribs/toddler beds, unexpired car seats, booster seats, all baby items, halloween costumes, bikes, duffel bags, backpacks, books, toys, and bedding.

New only: socks and underwear (all sizes and styles), diapers and pull-up diapers, wipes, baby bottles and sippy cups, pillows, and hygiene products are always in need.

“Hygiene is something that we go through quickly, and we go through quite a bit,” Minton said.

There is an urgent need currently for girls’ clothing, sizes six through 10 and 12.

Minton said that part of the organization’s mission is to provide these items to kids to help them begin the process of rebuilding their self-esteem and providing them with belongings they can call their own.

Donation drop off and foster family shopping times are the first Saturday and third Thursday of every month from noon to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.