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The Clothes Closet provides emergency food, clothing, household goods, baby items, and furniture, plus limited financial assistance to meet rent, utility or medical emergencies. Volunteers from the community provide this assistance in a caring manner to families and individuals in the Clay County area.
HISTORY
The Clothes Closet was started by Orange Park, Florida resident Madeline Moore in 1952. It started as a Girl Scout project when one of Madeline’s Scouts saw a little girl rooting in a trash can for food.
Moore began collecting food and clothing in her car. The Clothes Closet moved from the trunk of Moore’s Nash Rambler to a church closet. The first facility was an old donated house on Milwaukee Avenue with no heat, air conditioning or plumbing.
The Clothes Closet moved nine times before settling in 1996 on Fromhart Street on land donated by Orange Park. Moore solicited funds and donations from various businesses and individuals, and recruited volunteers to build the 5000 square foot building.
The Clothes Closet was incorporated in 1986 as the Church Women’s Christian Ministries. It is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers.