The Foster Closet at Illuminate

06/22/2026

❤ Share Your Story: We Want to Hear From You ❤

The Foster Closet exists because of a community that shows up—but the heart of what we do is the families we serve.

We have only been open a few weeks but if you’ve already shopped at The Foster Closet at Illuuminate, donated items, or volunteered your time, we would be so honored if you would take a moment to share your experience with us at the link below!
https://forms.gle/3hob5XeHnUTzsv4o9

Your story matters more than you know. It helps us understand the impact of this space, and it helps others see what’s possible when a community comes together to care for kids in foster, adoptive, and kinship care.

Thank you for letting us be part of your story—and for letting us share in yours.

06/21/2026

Today, we celebrate all the dads and father figures who show up with love, patience, guidance, and support.

To the dads who are raising their children, the foster dads who open their homes and hearts, the grandfathers who step in when needed, the adoptive dads, kinship caregivers, stepdads, mentors, and every man who chooses to invest in a child's life—thank you.

Thank you for the bedtime stories, the rides to appointments and practices, the words of encouragement, the lessons taught, the safe places you create, and the unwavering presence you provide.

For many children, especially those who have experienced trauma, having a trusted adult who shows up consistently can make all the difference.

Today, we celebrate you and the impact you make every single day.

Happy Father's Day. 💙

06/20/2026

This past week, a little boy came shopping at The Foster Closet at Innovation (our sister sight!).

While he left with clothes that fit and essentials he needed, he also left with two items he held especially close.

The first was a weighted blanket that had just arrived through our donation bin. It's not something we receive often, but for a child with sensory needs, it can provide comfort, security, and calm during uncertain times.

The second was a toy. A simple toy that he carefully picked out and was excited to call his own.

Sometimes it's easy to think that what we do is about clothing racks, shoe sizes, and filling bags. But moments like these remind us that it's so much more. It's about helping children feel safe. It's about providing comfort during difficult transitions. It's about giving a child something that belongs to them.

Because every child deserves more than just the basics—they deserve moments of joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

Thank you to every person who donates, volunteers, and supports The Foster Closet. You make stories like this possible. 🩷

06/19/2026

Thank you to the Muncie Journal for featuring us! Click the link below to read the news article!

By Samantha Mitchell — MUNCIE, IN —What began as a simple idea born from personal experience in Lafayette has grown into a thriving resource for foster families across Indiana. The Foster Closet, founded by Billy and Mandy Holden through Innovation Church in Lafayette, celebrated the grand ope

06/14/2026

Recently, two teens came to shop at Foster The Foster Closet at Innovation (our sister closet).

They browsed the racks, looked through the clothing, and hoped to find something that felt like them. While they found a few fun accessories from a generous Claire's donation and grabbed some much-needed socks, nothing in our clothing inventory really matched their personal style.

So instead of settling for something they didn't love, we were able to provide each teen with a $25 Plato's Closet gift card.

The smiles on their faces said it all.

For many of us, choosing our own clothes is something we take for granted. But for youth in foster care, being able to pick out something that reflects who they are can be incredibly meaningful. It's more than a shirt or a pair of jeans—it's confidence, independence, and a chance to express themselves.

A $25 gift card didn't just buy clothes that day. It gave two teens the opportunity to choose something for themselves—a small act that can mean so much when so many choices in life are made for them.

Moments like these are possible because of our amazing supporters who donate gift cards, funds, and resources that allow us to meet kids where they are.

Thank you for helping us serve not just the basic needs of children, but also their individuality, dignity, and sense of self. 💙

Because every child deserves to feel comfortable being exactly who they are.

Pictured below: The amazing foster parent that supports these amazing teens on a daily basis!

06/11/2026

All of THIS 👕🧥👖

Turns into THIS ❤️

Every bag of donated clothing helps provide free outfits for children in foster, adoptive, and kinship care. What looks like a pile of clothes becomes a first day of school outfit, cozy pajamas, a warm sweatshirt, and a child feeling seen and cared for.

📍 We take donations by appointment at Illuminate Muncie Foursquare, and we're currently in need of:

👦 Boys sizes 6 to 14/16 (pjs too!)
🩵 Adult Men size S to XL!

Thank you for helping us turn donations into dignity and making sure every child who shops our closet leaves with something they love.

06/08/2026

🎉 What a Day! 🎉

As we reflect on the grand opening of the Foster Closet, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude, excitement, and hope for the future.

What started as a dream to better support foster families, kinship caregivers, and children in our community became a reality because of the incredible people who showed up, pitched in, and celebrated alongside us. Seeing so many families, community members, partners, and supporters walk through our doors made this day more meaningful than we can put into words.

Of course, no reflection on the day would be complete without mentioning our Co-Director, Joe, who fully embraced the celebration spirit by proudly sporting the Foster Closet logo painted across his forehead! (And yes, we have the photo evidence to prove it! 😄) His enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to have a little fun perfectly captured the joy and excitement we all felt throughout the day.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to our amazing staff and volunteers whose countless hours of planning, organizing, and hard work made this event possible. Thank you to our incredible vendors and community partners who helped make the day such a success:

🎶 Carl Bentley Band
🍴 The Food Vault
🍰 Cheesecake -N- Motion LLC
🎨 AddiLine’s
👗 The Borrow Bar
🕯️ Sowing A Seed
☕ Pretty Little Cafe
🍞 Leedoms Loaves & more

We are also especially grateful to our friends at The Foster Closet at Innovation for their guidance, encouragement, and support throughout this journey. Your willingness to share your knowledge and experience has been invaluable.

Most importantly, thank you to our community. Your support, generosity, and belief in our mission reminds us why this work matters. Every donation, volunteer hour, share, conversation, and word of encouragement helps us create a stronger support system for the children and families we serve.

This grand opening was not the finish line—it was the beginning. We are incredibly excited for what lies ahead and look forward to growing, serving more families, building new partnerships, and continuing to make a difference together.

Here’s to the future of the Foster Closet—and to the amazing community helping us make it possible. ❤️

06/07/2026