First Teen Clothes Closet Expands Reach Through Partnership

“Our current inventory needs:
Jewelry
Athletic shorts (guys and girls, all sizes) ”

The First Teen Clothes Closet is expanding its reach through a partnership with the Children’s Clothes Closet, housed at Trinity Lutheran Church in La Crosse. We have recognized for some time that there are many families who struggle to access our facility because they lack transportation to Onalaska. Recently connecting with organizers from the Children’s Clothes Closet has presented an opportunity for us to bring more teens to our Closet as an extension of our recent decision to offer to pay for taxi or transit rides.

Trinity’s Children’s Closet is open each Monday night. First’s team is using the church van to bring teens from families served at Trinity here to our Closet so they can access the items we have available. In our first night offering the shuttle, on just a one-week notice, we served four teens from North La Crosse. Additional nights shuttling teens from Trinity to the First Teen Clothes Closet are scheduled in April and May. We will assess how to approach the summer, when the Children’s Closet is closed.

We will also be working with the Children’s Closet to collect children’s clothing here at First Lutheran, which will be shared with the La Crosse closet for elementary-age and younger children. Watch for new collection bins in the church entryway, where you can donate gently used clothing for children or teens.

We also will seeking additional volunteers, including drivers, as we expand our ability to serve those without transportation. If you are interested in learning more about the First Teen Clothes Closet, or volunteering as an appointment host, driver, shopper, inventory manager or snack stocker, contact the church office or a member of the steering committee.

By working together with complementary organizations, we can reach more people in need without duplicating services.

Thank you!

First Teen Clothes Closet Committee

• Bridget Crave
• Lori Lunney
• Tina Nelson
• Patty Shepard
• Shari Hegland