Passion Statement
We are passionate about restoring dignity to youth in crisis.
Foster Care Closet's Haven Service
In 2012, a collaborative effort between Foster Care Closet and Nebraska's Department of Health and Human Services was formed. We created Foster Care Closet's Haven Service. This unique service allows children to have a clean, comfortable, welcoming environment to wait while proper placement can be found. When a traumatized youth comes through Foster Haven's doors, we make sure they are fed and clothed. We provide for them 5 NEW outfits (including socks, underwear, season appropriate coat and one pair of shoes) for FREE. Through this service, we seek to minimize the trauma foster kids experience during the initial placement process.Mobile Closet
The majority of the youth in foster care in Nebraska struggle to reach our stores. We have physical locations in Lincoln and Beatrice but that is not enough to reach youth in crisis. Our mobile closet program was created to reach the youth in the foster care system who can not get to our stores.
We partner with communities across Nebraska to create pop up shops for youth in foster care to shop. A big part of restoring dignity to youth in crisis is creating the opportunity for youth in foster care to choose clothes they want to wear. We work with wholesale vendors to have modern, on trend clothing styles and a variety of options to make every youth in foster care feel good about what they are wearing. This opportunity to give them their voice back and control something about their life helps restore their dignity in this time of crisis.
Clothing
Foster Care Closet is a donation-driven, nonprofit. We are proud to be recognized as a Better Business Bureau Integrity winner for the way we serve our most vulnerable youth. In July of 2015, there were over 600 abused and neglected children in the Lincoln area. That’s as large as a senior class graduation! Foster Care Closet is here to restore dignity to youth in crisis in the foster care system by providing new clothing and other needed items. We do so in a respectful and dignified manner allowing insecure and scared youth to build confidence and self-esteem.
Additional Support
Foster Care Closet has become a source of love and support for many foster families throughout the state of Nebraska. Our efforts continue beyond Foster Care Closet's Haven Service and the new clothing we provide. By leveraging our extensive network of supporters, we work to not only find items not commonly carried by Foster Care Closet, but also to connect families with a variety of other resources to handle their specific needs. We have helped people find car seats, beds, pack-n-plays, cribs, high chairs and other necessities foster families may not have to welcome their new foster kids into their home. We can't store all of these items in our warehouse, but we can ask our community if anyone can help fulfill an immediate need.
History
Foster Care Closet was founded in March of 2006 after founders Patrick and Leigh Esau recognized the need for quality clothing in the foster care system. Through more than a dozen placements of youth in foster care at their home, they came to the realization almost all of the children came to their doorstep with only the clothes they were wearing - and nothing else.
These experiences and conversations with other foster parents helped them conceptualize Foster Care Closet and lead them to start the organization out of their own basement. Beginning with simple used clothing donations from neighbors, churches, and community members, Foster Care Closet began offering quality clothing to youth entering the foster care system at no cost to them or their foster parents.
Now in addition to giving out NEW clothes, personal hygiene products and comfort items, Foster Care Closet has two services: Foster Care Closet's Haven and our Mobile Closet. We welcome youth to our Haven on the day they are moved into foster care and create pop up shops in places where people struggle to reach our stores. This growth has helped youth in foster care all across the state receive the opportunity to have their voice heard about the clothes they get to wear.
Additionally, we have a team of paid staff members, a warehouse onsite and offsite to store our clothing, two stores, Lincoln and Beatrice, for youth in foster care to shop in and a team of dedicated volunteers.
As we look to the future, we hope to share our business practices with other states and help redefine the process of moving youth into foster care. Reducing the trauma youth receive as they are placed into foster care and restoring their dignity as they live through the experience is our primary focus.
Leadership
| Leigh Esau Founding Director |
Tim Balzer Executive Director |
| Tami Catron Business Development |
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