Permanent Home for the WNY Foster Closet

Who are we?

The WNY Foster Closet, is a registered 501C3 located in the McKinley Mall in Western NY. The WNY Foster Closet services all of the neighboring counties of Erie. The closet was founded by a Foster Mom, Cheryl Flick, out of her home after she saw a need for Kinship and Foster Children to be clothed with dignity and respect. After growing out of her home, and seeing the demand in the community, a church so graciously offered space to set up. After 3 years at the church, it became apparent that there was a need for a bigger space, and a more centralized location to bus routes. A lease was signed at the Eastern Hills Mall, and the plan was to stay there. However after signing an additional lease, a surprise eviction notice was received due to mall redevelopment. (https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/some-business-owners-at-eastern-hills-mall-speak-on-receiving-an-eviction-letter)

We were able to secure a space in the McKinley Mall, with the generous donations and support of the community and the pledge of West Herr's Beth Hollis, to help with a portion of the rent monthly. (https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/wny-foster-closet-finds-new-home-after-being-pushed-out-of-eastern-hills-mall#:~:text=The%20WNY%20Foster%20Closet%20has%20found%20a%20new,after%20being%20pushed%20out%20of%20Eastern%20Hills%20Mall.)

What is our Mission?

On your worst day, you know that at the end of the day your home is waiting for you. The familiar smells, your favorite chair, your comfiest blanket, and to see your family. Children of all ages are removed under the most traumatic of circumstances, by a Social Worker the child has typically not met before, and sometimes a Police Officer. The children are given little to no time to pack what belongings they have, usually in a garbage bag, before being sent to live with strangers or a family member, with no definitive day when or if they will be back with Mom or Dad.

Not only are Foster and Kinship Caregivers saddled with helping children navigate the trauma leading up to and from the removal, but they are also tasked with planning how to financially obtain all of the necessary things these children need. This is where the WNY Foster Closet welcomes them with open arms. The closet serves as a place the children and caregivers can shop in a retail like environment completely free of charge. Imagine taking in your 5 nieces and nephews, who came with nothing. This means bunk beds, a crib, a toddler bed, car seats, socks, underwear, hygiene products, clothes, etc. Not to mention Birthday presents, Christmas presents, and back to school supplies.

The WNY Foster Closet provides all of that and more. By providing such crucial items families are able to say yes, if finances were a barrier to the initial placement coming. All of these items have been generously donated by our local businesses and the Western NY community. Another thing we are proud to say is that all of the items taking from the closet get to go home at reunification! This alleviates some of the financial burden for parents when their child returns home.

Our 2-3 Year Plan:

Our Local community has been so incredibly generous, we have the fundraising for supplies for the children covered. We are able to post a need, and they usually respond in big ways. The goal has always been to have some self-sufficiency to ensure the day to day of the closet. Since taking care of the children is our main priority, when we do fundraisers like our coupe event, we use those funds to purchase all new brand name school sneakers for the kids, and brand-new car seats and cribs. We also apply to many grants to obtain necessary items for the children.

Those fundraisers and grants do not include the cost of running the WNY Foster Closet and any operational costs. We want to ensure the health of the closet, and its ability to provide for the community for many years to come. That is why we want to share our 2-3 Year plan with you.

Firstly, we want to make it known that no portion of these funds will be going to salary. All of the Board members, including Cheryl work tirelessly to maintain the closet, however are volunteers and there are no paid positions.

The money from this Go-Fund-Me is to purchase an already existing commercial building, or a plot of commercial land and outfit it with a pole barn. This will alleviate the need for rental payments, and the closet will be able to maintain utilities, taxes and insurance.

Any additional funds raised over the initial ask will go towards outfitting the inside of the building, and any building maintenance.

We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read this and considering the closet!

Warmest Regards,

The WNY Foster Closet